Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel proposed an expansion of the city's Downtown Zoning District this week. The changes would allow taller buildings in a larger swath of the city.
Bill Ruthart reports that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is "seeking a new program to charge developers extra for packing more square footage into downtown buildings, with the money going for projects in Chicago's economically depressed neighborhoods."
"The mayor estimated the proposal could generate roughly $40 million to $50 million in the next three or four years — but it also could help some developers make millions of dollars more on new projects," adds Ruthart.
The "Neighborhood Opportunity Bonus," as Mayor Emanuel calls, it would build on the existing "Zoning Bonus Ordinance," to provide incentives for developers to build more amenities into projects in return for greater height and density.
"Under the mayor's plan, some of the current bonuses — which he argued benefit mostly the building itself — will be eliminated in exchange for fees that would be set aside for neighborhood projects," reports Rurthart, who also describes how the new funding for economic development in struggling neighborhoods would be spent.
Fran Spielman provides additional coverage of Mayor Emanuel's announcement for the Chicago Sun-Times.
FULL STORY: Emanuel: Charge downtown developers more, spend money in struggling neighborhoods
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association