Illinois

Feds Fund Chicago's Congestion Pricing Parking Plan

1 May 2008 - 6:00am
U.S DOT: Office of Public Affairs

$153 million in congestion reduction funds that had been awarded to New York City will now go to Chicago to apply congestion pricing to street parking spaces. Funds will also go toward developing pilot Bus Rapid Transit routes on dedicated lanes.

Is Suburbia Avoiding Reality?

8 April 2008 - 7:00am
Boston Review

Michael Gecan uses the Chicago and New York City areas as examples of the challenges facing mature suburbs, examines the ways many are avoiding reality, and draws a series of conclusions.

Sprawl Not an Option for Rural Chicago Suburb

3 April 2008 - 8:00am
Chicago Tribune

Th small town of Golf, Illinois, is likely to stay that way because of barriers at its borders. Its residents couldn't be happier.

Rural County Population Nearly Doubled in Less Than a Decade

21 March 2008 - 9:00am
The Associated Press

With a growth rate of more than 75% over the last seven years, Kendall County, Illinois, is changing fast and the local farming community is struggling to adapt.

The St. Patrick's Day River

17 March 2008 - 2:00pm
Chicago Tribune

As part of its yearly tradition, officials in Chicago have dyed the Chicago River green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Chicago Eyes an Elevated Bike Trail

14 March 2008 - 10:00am
Chicago Public Radio

The Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail want to convert a three-mile section of abandoned elevated rail line into a bike trail. It could take a decade, but the idea already has the backing of some of the city's power players.

Is Chicago's 'Transformed' Cabrini-Green 'Too Good for Poor People'?

13 March 2008 - 10:00am
Good Magazine

As a part of Chicago's $1.4 billion "Plan for Transformation," the once massive Cabrini-Green project has been redeveloped into a mix of affordable, public and market housing. But 80% of the former tenants have moved away.

Why Protecting Ballpark's Historic Designation is Good for Chicago

3 March 2008 - 3:00pm
Chicago Tribune

A proposal to sell the naming rights of Chicago's Wrigley Field is being seen as a relaxation of the ballpark's historic landmark restrictions and may open the door for city-wide landmark designation challenges, according to this commentary.

Remaking the Waterfront, Remaking the City

27 February 2008 - 10:00am
Smart City

This episode of Smart City looks at riverfront redevelopment as a tool for recreating cities.

The Surreal Thing: Chicago's Broken Landmarking Process

25 February 2008 - 3:00pm
Chicago Reader

Even as it celebrates the 40th anniversary of the city's landmarks ordinance, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks not only continues to leave many essential buildings unprotected, it's upending the very definition of what a landmark is.

Chicago Mayor Demands Better Transit

15 February 2008 - 2:00pm
Chicago Tribune

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has posed a challenge to the city's transit agency to revamp its system to be cleaner and faster, and also to emphasize the creation of retail shops in train stations.

Chicago's Pay-to-Play Zoning Redux

12 February 2008 - 6:00am
Chicago Tribune

A continuation of the series of articles from the Chicago Tribune that look at zoning and the politics that shape the city's land use.

Improving Bike Safety By Raising Fines

8 February 2008 - 11:00am
Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is looking to make his city's streets safer for cyclists by raising fines for reckless drivers who endanger bikers.

Chicago's Pay-to-Play Zoning

30 January 2008 - 2:00pm
Chicago Tribune

A series of articles from the Chicago Tribune that look at zoning and the politics that shape the city's land use.

Chicago Transit Cuts Averted By Tax Raise

20 January 2008 - 10:00am
The Chicago Tribune

After more than a year with its funding in limbo and its future questionable, the Chicago Transit Authority has been saved from fare hikes and service cuts by an increase in county sales taxes.

Chicago Suburb Removes Pedestrian Mall

14 January 2008 - 10:00am
Chicago Public Radio

The Chicago suburb Village of Oak Park opens the Marion Street Mall to automobile traffic again for the first time since 1974.

Wind Power Goes Small Scale

18 December 2007 - 12:00pm
The New York Times

A wind turbine installed in one weekend is saving homeowners about 80% on their electricity bills.

Chicken Ban Considered in Chicago

13 December 2007 - 1:00pm
Associated Press

Chicago city officials have proposed a ban that would forbid residents from keeping chickens.

Bankrupt Developer Leaves Chicago Exurban Area Desolate

9 December 2007 - 10:00am
Chicago Tribune

The first new residents of the Clublands subdivision were promised a neighborhood. Instead they live among half-finished homes, unpaved roads, and darkened street lights as the community's developer wrestles with bankruptcy.

Illinois Politics Delaying Chicago Transit Bailout

3 December 2007 - 11:00am
St. Louis Post Dispatch

The governor of Illinois and legislators outside of Chicago are fighting over transportation funding, which is delaying the bailout for Chicago transit.