Updates from Chicago Cityscape
- Naperville permits added to our one-stop data warehouse (read how)
- Latest zoning change applications were added on Monday (see the map)
- Keep track of your research with My Lists (learn how)
Neighborhood news reading list
- Say what now? Joe Cacciatore, who owns Lacuna Lofts in Pilsen, wants to build a 30-story tower with 208 dwelling units, and an equivalent number of car parking spaces. (Crain’s)
- Funding from TIF districts was approved for the combined library-housing project on Taylor St. in Little Italy, and The Hatchery in East Garfield Park (Curbed)
- 👆🏿 Speaking of that Little Italy library, some residents at a meeting last week (which we attended) wanted the library without the housing — at least not with affordable housing. Nevertheless, an executive from the developer, Related Midwest, said the library can’t be built without the housing component because (1) CHA owns the land and can’t sell it, and (2) part of the library funding is coming because there’s a housing component, as there isn’t enough funding to build the library with TIF or Chicago Public Library revenues alone.
- What a great idea: Train local residents to rehab abandoned houses in Chicago. MB Financial bank and Rush University hospital are starting the loan pool with $4 million. (Next City)
- A maker space and social club, with an events space, has been proposed for industrial building in Avondale; of course, it needs a zoning change first (DNAinfo)
- Alex Al-Sabah’s two companies, Elite Rental & Management, and Elite Invest, are rehabbing houses across the South Side (Greater Grand Crossing, Auburn Gresham, and others), selling to investors, and then managing them as rental properties. An interview with Crain’s.
- 👆🏾 How do we find property owners so fast? Search for their name and we’ll show you the properties that we know they’re associated with. Try “Elite Invest” where nearly 100 results appear.
- Active Transportation Alliance, normally pushing the city to make changes so more people will feel safe walking and bicycling, is backing the “Pilot Act for the Preservation of Affordable Housing in the 606 Residential Area” (ordinance text), which would increase demolition and deconversion fees. (Chicago Reader)
- 👆🏼 We’ve heard from residents and the alders about the law, but we haven’t heard from developers about the proposed 606 law — send us a private message to tell us what you think about (here’s our summary).