Illinois

The Dakota Access Pipeline Now Pumping Oil
Adding insult to injury in a bad week for environmental causes, the Dakota Access pipeline began shipping oil this week.

Sign of the Times: Developers Deconverting Condos Back to Apartments in Chicago
In the 1970s and 1980s, condo conversions were all the rage in Chicago. In 2017, however, developers are scooping up multi-family buildings en masse and "deconverting" condo units into apartments.

Metra Proposes Frequency Changes for the South Side of Chicago
Overall, Chicago's regional train service the Metra has been losing ridership, however, Hyde Park neighborhood stations have seen some growth.
Reimagining the Spaces Under Chicago's Skyway
UIC architecture students competed to design improvements for the spaces under Chicago's South Side "Skyway," which carries drivers from the city to and from Northwest Indiana.

Black Chicagoans Segregated, Regardless of Income
Latino Chicagoans are more likely to live in diverse neighborhoods than whites or blacks do.

Mapping Chicago's Zoning Code Changes
A new interactive map feature launched by the Chicago Cityscape website maps all the zoning changes up for approval around the city.

Leaving Chicago's South Shore
Middle class African Americans are leaving Chicago, and that leaves neighborhoods like the city's South Shore reeling.

Obama: Pedestrianize Street Next to Presidential Center
Barack Obama supports closing Cornell Drive, a six-lane road next to the future site of the Obama Presidential Center, to automobile access. He cites safety concerns and the need for green space.

Distracted Drivers Get Few Tickets in Chicago
Police in Chicago issued 99% fewer distracted driving tickets in 2016 than in 2015.

Planned Skate Park Killed Near Chicago's 606
A planned Bucktown skate park will not be built and many neighbors are celebrating.

Do Good Fences Make Good Neighborhood Parks?
A Chicago city park, recently redesigned to be more welcoming, could become less so in its final form. Neighbors complaining about "really shady" park visitors are lobbying for a 6-foot fence to be included in the park's multi-million dollar revamp.

Cyclists Still Waiting for Chicago's Navy Pier Flyover
Delays and slow financing have kept a Navy Pier flyover grounded, and cyclists are tired of getting hit as they bike around the construction.

First Look at the Future Obama Presidential Center
The former president and first lady released a first look at the designs for the future site of the Obama Presidential Center on the South Side of Chicago.

Eviction Hot Spot: Chicago's South Shore
Rising rents and low income residents have made this South Side neighborhood a locus for evictions and forced moves.

A Simple Idea to Fix Transit on Chicago's South Side
On Chicago's massive south side, fixing transit means working on more than just CTA trains.

Bag Tax Making a Big Difference in Chicago, Study Finds
NYU study finds 30% decrease in use of disposable bags since the city of Chicago implemented a seven-cent tax on them.
Chicago's Wabash Lights Concept Could Expand
An art instillation of colorful LED lights hanging under the L on Wabash looks to grow.
After Drive By Shooting, Chicago Aims to Ban Guns in Party Buses
Chicago City Council is moving to close a loop hole in its gun control laws which forbid guns in bars, but do not cover party buses.

New Public Space Outside Wrigley Field Just Another Win for Chicago
Chicago Cubs fans looking to bask in the glory of the team's first World Series victory since 1908 will find a new public plaza and lawn next to the stadium. The plaza will be open to the public on non-baseball days too.

PIRG Releases Third Highway Boondoggles Report
A new report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and the Frontier Group indicates that highway boondoggles have been getting bigger, more costly, with the benefits more limited. Nine projects are analyzed in "Highway Boondoggles 3."
Pagination
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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JM Goldson LLC
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Camden Redevelopment Agency
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