Chicago

Union Station Chicago

First on Chicago's Wish List from the Trump Administration: $1 Billion for Union Station

The Emanuel Administration has yet to secure needed funding for a big project to update Chicago's Union Station. Now it's up to the Trump Administration to supply a needed loan.

January 14, 2017 - Crain's Chicago Business

Schools

Lead Testing Mandated in Illinois Schools

After a scandal exposed widespread lead contamination in Chicago schools, new legislation requires regular lead testing.

January 13, 2017 - Politico

High Line

Downtown Residential Populations Catalogued and Compared

Nick Ian Emenhiser compares percent of city populations in their downtowns.

January 12, 2017 - Green City Blue Lake

Chicago Gets a $1.1 Billion Federal Grant for North Side Transit Improvements

The city of Chicago was working hard to win the federal funding while the Obama Administration is still in power.

January 9, 2017 - The Chicago Tribune

No Dumping

Sensors Measure Rainwater on Chicago Streets

A smart city pilot project, already in place at three locations in Chicago and on the way to two more, deploys sophisticated data gathering technology to measure the simple act of rainwater running downhill. Better green infrastructure will follow.

January 4, 2017 - Data-Smart City Solutions

Bike Lane in the Snow

Friday Funny: An Imaginary Snowplow Takes a Lot of Days Off

Fans of @BobGunderson and @BicycleLobby will want to check out the Chicago winter version of the sardonic fake Twitter account, @606snowplow.

December 23, 2016 - Chi.Streetsblog

Chicago Lakefront Trail

Philanthropy Key for Separate Bikes and Peds on Chicago's Lakefront Trail

A $12 million gift from a local billionaire will enable a project to give separate access for bike and pedestrians on the popular Lakefront Trail.

December 22, 2016 - Chicago Sun Times

Crosswalk

Study Supports 'Idaho Stop' for Cyclists

"The Idaho Stop,'"which describes bike riders treating stop signs as yield signs, got more support from a recent study by DePaul University.

December 21, 2016 - Chi.Streetsblog

Chicago Riverwalk

Embracing Rivers as a Vehicle for Urban Revitalization

A new study includes urban rivers as a potential powerful amenity for economic development and revitalization. The city of Chicago has already taken note.

December 19, 2016 - Chicago Magazine

Coming to Chicago's Grant Park: A 'Health Park'

A proposal to build a new "health park" in Downtown's Grant Park is still in the early phases,

December 18, 2016 - DNAInfo

Englewood

New Film Documents the Chicago Neighborhood Demolished to Make Way for Railroads

David Schalliol, director of the documentary, 'The Area,' talks about the impact of a railroad expansion that demolished the homes of 400 families on the South Side of Chicago.

December 14, 2016 - Chicagoist

Englewood Southside Neighborhood

More $1 Vacant Lots for Sale in Chicago

With some 20,000 vacant lots located around the city, Chicago is expanding the Large Lots Program that allows property owners to buy nearby lots for $1.

December 14, 2016 - Chicago Tribune

West Side Chicago Votes to Tax Itself to Fund Mental Health Services

After the city's government cut funding to mental health services, closing many of the city's clinics, residents of Chicago's West Side voted overwhelmingly to tax their properties to reverse that trend.

December 9, 2016 - Chicago Tonight

Chicago El

Chicago Elevated Train Funding Passes with Unanimous Support

The Chicago City Council has authorized a billion dollars in funding for upgrades and maintenance for the city's Red, Purple, and Brown Line trains; the city hopes to get additional federal funds before Obama leaves office.

December 2, 2016 - Chi.Streetsblog

Chicago Tow Truck

Chicago to Install New Parking Meters to Lessen Impact of Bad Contract

The city of Chicago will install 752 new parking meters in 2017—but still fall far from the Shoupian ideal.

November 29, 2016 - DNAinfo Chicago

Goose Island Chicago

Map: Chicago Has a Lot of Developable Land

An interactive map from Chicago Cityscape shows all of the city's parking lots, vacant spaces, and city-owned land. Not all of it is truly vacant, or developable, but the map shows how much scope remains for new construction.

November 27, 2016 - Chicago Cityscape

The Cost of Thanksgiving at Whole Foods in Englewood in Chicago

Is Whole Foods making Thanksgiving accessible for residents of Englewood in Chicago?

November 24, 2016 - The Chicago Tribune

Little Free Library

Chicago to Co-Locate Libraries and Public Housing

The city wants both public uses to be housed in "eye-catching works of architecture."

November 7, 2016 - Chicago Tribune

Chicago

Chicago Debates Merits of Expanding the Kennedy Expressway

Chicago's Kennedy Expressway to the O'Hare Airport is getting a $22.9 million lane expansion, some active transit and public transit advocates question the wisdom of that investment.

November 3, 2016 - DNAinfo Chicago

Chicago

The Big Ideas Behind the Proposed 'Chicago Transit Redevelopment Trust'

The Chicago Central Area Committee has thrown its hand into the ring for the "100&Change" grant from the MacArthur Foundation.

October 28, 2016 - Crain's Chicago Business

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.