A First for Chicago: City Releases Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Plan

The city of Chicago released its first-ever Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) policy plan this week, according to multiple sources, to create a roadmap for the equitable development of mixed-use neighborhoods around transit stations in the city. 

John Greenfield reports that the new eTOD Plan was "mandated by the city’s 2019 amendment to the Chicago TOD ordinance, originally approved by City Council in 2013, which required the city to study disparities in the TOD ordinance performance and propose updates to encourage more equitable development."

Among the goals for the first of its kind policy, Greenfield reports that the city hopes that "equitable TOD can address disparities in health and life expectancy in a city where Black residents live an average of nine years fewer than their white counterparts." 

According to another article by Caitlin Crowe, "The policy will address the city's insufficient development of dense, walkable retail and housing near transit stations in Black communities across the city's South and West sides."

"The plan also intends to mitigate the "displacement pressures" experienced by longtime residents living near transit stations in parts of the city undergoing rapid growth," adds Crowe.

Crowe also sheds light on the scale of the need for the new eTOD plan, noting that the city of Chicago has approved 200 projects with TOD benefits since 2016, but all are located on the city's North and Northwest sides, downtown and West Loop areas. 

Chicago is currently soliciting public feedback on the new plan through October 29.