Chicago Grants Support Equitable Transit-Oriented Development

The city of Chicago has awarded eleven grants to projects that promote development around transit stations, reports Natalie Moore. "Funding totals $160,000 in microgrants and technical assistance with each project receiving up to $20,000," with an additional $10 million proposed in the 2022 budget. 

The city hopes to promote Transit-Oriented Development as well as "racial equity and climate change resilience." According to a city analysis, "[a]reas near rail stations eligible for TOD benefits — but that have not seen any TOD activity — have 40% more residents of color and 23% more low-income residents." The policies that have led to unequal development have contributed to "entrenched racial and economic segregation." Last year, "the city pledged to drive investment to projects beyond market-rate housing." Mayor Lori Lightfoot's chief policy officer, Dan Lurie, said that the equity focus "is expressly about confronting those systems, how they work in community, and building coalitions on the ground with communities, with people who are living in these neighborhoods."

Among the awarded projects: "A bustling corridor at 79th Street and the Dan Ryan Expressway with housing and retail. A healthy corner store walking distance from the 95th Street Red Line. A food hall and walk-up ice cream window in East Garfield Park."