The Chicago Tribune

In the depressed Chicago suburb of Robbins, developers have joined forces to provide 800 affordably-priced houses over the next 5 years.

With more and more grandparent raising their grandchildren nationally, developers are responding to the demand for housing that can accommodate both age groups and provide the specialized services each needs.

The Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois is considering two competing proposals for new skyscrapers in its downtown.

Facing large budget deficits, the Chicago Transit Authority has announced plans to raise fares and cut service.

Solar-powered, high-tech garbage cans are to be installed on the lakeshore in Chicago, which the city hopes will help reduce the amount of garbage that collects on the beaches in summertime.

A program spearheaded by former President Bill Clinton will see green upgrades made to public buildings in 15 global cities.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's plan to require developers to set aside part of new projects as affordable housing passed by a vote of 44-2.

Unlike the stations in many global cities, toilets in Chicago's main transit system are off-limits to most customers. However, plans are developing to install self-cleaning toilets in many of the system's stations.

In suburbs across Illinois, residents are joining forces to fight against the creation of sidewalks, which they view as a threat to their communities' rural character and their very security.

More and more suburban Illinois communities are streaming their public hearings over the web, enabling more people to follow their local democratic process -- a trend being seen across the country.

With little interest from the governor, Illinois transit officials are predicting that budget cuts will dramatically reduce transit service, especially in the suburban Chicago area. They have been unsuccessful in rallying lawmakers to boost funding.

The controversial practice of demolishing all but the exterior of a historic building doesn't serve to preserve that past or encourage new architecture, argues architecture critic Blair Kamin.

Transit officials in Chicago plan to introduce a fare card that riders will be able to use on the city's three public transportation systems.

Preservationists have petitioned the city and stopped a homeowner from tearing down the 1950s ranch-style home he recently purchased, citing the home's historic value.

A number of historic buildings in Chicago are being preserved -- but only on the outside. Developers have bent the rules of preservation to repurpose historic buildings as parking garages and luxury condos while preserving only their facades.

Santiago Calatrava unveils his Chicago Spire -- slated to be the tallest building in the nation -- in three dimensions to a mostly appreciative audience.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, whose city has typically been recognized for its environmental leadership, recently visited Chicago to observe the pioneering work of Mayor Daley in implementing green building principles and gather new ideas.

Chicago Transit Authority board members prefer to drive, leading the mass transit riding public to think they don't understand system problems.

Architect Helmut Jahn's design for a new single-room occupancy building on the edge of Chicago's former Cabrini Green project gets high marks, but some criticize the cost of using high-end architects for affordable housing.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley proposed a revised version of a crosstown expressway his father, former Mayor Richard J. Daley, first envisioned almost 30 years ago. The mayor's new plan for a Mid-City Transitway would utilize existing rights of way.