Chicago Department of Planning and Development

“Southeast Side residents gathered at an open house to offer input as the city looks to revitalize the industrial corridors along the Calumet River.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/gGQaMdHU

DPD is hiring five City Planner V positions! Apply now through Feb. 27 at Chicago.gov/Careers.

The “Project Highlights” booklet is an overview of Department of Planning and Development (DPD) projects that were either initiated or completed between January and December of 2024. Under the leadership of Commissioner Ciere Boatright, DPD shepherded more than $11 billion in new projects through the Plan Commission process, outpacing the totals for 2022 and 2023 combined. The small, medium and large grant programs meanwhile allocated more than $400 million toward more than 600 business development projects, supporting $1.7 billion in private investment across the city. The featured projects are just a portion of DPD’s accomplishments, but they collectively represent the wide variety of transformative community development initiatives under Mayor Brandon Johnson to foster a more equitable and sustainable Chicago. Each project was accomplished through the hard work of staff in partnership with elected officials, businesses, community leaders, private developers and other partners. DPD staff looks forward to implementing many other improvements for a more equitable Chicago in the year to come.

Today DPD and the Chicago Department of Transportation released A Vision for LaSalle Street, a community-led framework for public realm improvements and neighborhood-oriented enhancements between Wacker Drive and Jackson Boulevard. Learn more at Chicago.gov/LaSalleStreet. The vision includes 11 planning principles which include: 👏 Promoting a mix of private uses that encourage vibrancy outside of traditional 9-to-5 business hours, such as new restaurants and stores 🌳 “Softening” the street’s canyon-like environment with new landscaping and greenery. 🎨 Making art, architecture and performance spaces foundational parts of the corridor’s identity 🚸 Creating welcoming, pedestrian-oriented community gathering spaces and convenient public transit connections 👨👩👧👧 Prioritizing diverse, affordable programming that makes LaSalle an equitable and accessible destination for visitors and Chicagoans citywide The document was informed by hundreds of community members through in-person and online meetings, an electronic survey and outreach through the 34th and 42nd ward offices. CDOT is also conducting an engineering assessment of LaSalle’s physical and structural conditions that will be completed in 2025 which will further inform the City's goals for a safe, inviting and innovative public realm that reflects the community's vision for corridor growth.

As part of the Missing Middle Housing Initiative, residents are invited to meet the five development teams selected to build nearly 100 housing units on 36 City-owned lots from 5-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13 at UCAN Center, 3605 W. Fillmore St. Teams will share their proposed projects and timelines for construction with attendees. Learn more at Chicago.gov/MissingMiddle.

Congratulations to the January 2025 Community Development Grant finalists! $30 million in City funding will support 14 projects across Chicago. Learn more at Chicago.gov/CDG.

Interested in receiving up to $250,000 to support construction or renovation costs for your business project? Attend a webinar on Friday, Jan. 31 to learn more about DPD's Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, which is accepting grant applications through Feb. 14. Register now at Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars, and see additional information about Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grants at Chicago.gov/NOF.

Commissioner Boatright joined Mayor Johnson at the Chicago Cultural Center today to celebrate the announcement of $30 million in new Community Development Grant awards! The 14 selected local business projects are set to invest more than $148 million in neighborhoods across the city. Also, for the first time, four pre-development grants will help cover design, engineering and other eligible expenses for projects in the initial planning stages. More info on DPD's Community Development Grant program, including a full list of finalists, is available at Chicago.gov/CDG.

The three new development projects approved by Plan Commission today represent $7.47 billion in mixed-use investment across Chicago, including nearly 9,900 rental and for sale housing units. More to come next month!

Plan Commission approved 1325 West Fulton LLC’s 240-unit, three-building residential complex on the Near West Side. Starting with an 80-unit condo tower at Fulton and Ada, the $400 million project includes $21 million in affordable housing and bonus payments.