Strong Towns Chicago
@strongtownschicago.bsky.social
Have fun and make a difference with an active urbanist community. Join us! Housing 🏡 Transit 🚎 Finance 🤓 Website: strongtownschicago.org Linktree: https://linktr.ee/strongtownschicago
Strong Towns Chicago's Alex Montero: "Illinois already killed parking mandates. Chicago should finish the job. The hard part is done, don't make it harder." @strongtownschicago.bsky.social @stevevance.net @elevatedchicago.bsky.social @activetransportation.org @chicagocta.bsky.social
Illinois already killed parking mandates. Chicago should finish the job. - Streetsblog Chicago
The hard part is done, don't make it harder.
chi.streetsblog.org
Alex Montero: City Council should pass a full repeal of minimum parking mandates. "The City is making its zoning code more difficult to enforce and taking on more legal liability for the right to require parking for a hotdog stand at O’Hare... This is madness." chi.streetsblog.org/2026/09/03/i...
When state legislators passed the People Over Parking Act (POPA) last fall, they intended to make it easier to build housing and open shops. But Chicago is set to write the law into its zoning code in the most cumbersome way possible. There’s a better way. citythatworks.substack.com/p/illinois-a...
Illinois already killed parking mandates. Chicago should finish the job.
The hard part is done, don't make it harder
citythatworks.substack.com
The City That Works is a newsletter about politics and public policy in Chicago. We think Chicago is a great city, and love the ideas encapsulated in the name that Richard Daley gave it - ‘The City That Works.’
CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen will be the keynote speaker at our joint Transit-a-Thon on Aug. 11! Join us at the DePaul University Chaddick Institute for an evening of round-robin transit discussions covering a variety of topics. Grab your spot today!
Transit-a-Thon | High Speed Rail Alliance
Join us and Strong Towns Chicago, Congress for the New Urbanism Chicago, and Abundant Housing Illinois for energizing transit discussions.
hsrail.org
If you loved last year's Housing-a-Thon as much as we did, you're gonna wanna grab your free ticket ASAP! On Aug. 11, we’re teaming up with @strongtownschicago.bsky.social, @abundanthousingil.bsky.social & @hsrail.bsky.social to tackle transit issues in Chicago. www.eventbrite.com/e/transit-a-...
eventbrite.com
Join us Aug. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. alongside Strong Towns Chicago, CNU Chicago, and Abundant Housing Illinois at DePaul University’s Loop campus for an evening of energizing small-group discussions covering a variety of transit topics. Reserve a spot today!
Transit-a-Thon | High Speed Rail Alliance
Join us and Strong Towns Chicago, Congress for the New Urbanism Chicago, and Abundant Housing Illinois for energizing transit discussions.
hsrail.org
We were out last night and took some photos at the jam and vigil ride for Riley O'Neil (hosted by @bikegridnow.org), a CDOT employee who spent his life working to make biking safer in Chicago, and was killed in a crash in Bridgeport on Friday June, 5th. Rest in Peace, Riley.
CDOT lost the best of our team yesterday. We're heartbroken. In memory of Riley O'Neil, please refer to these bike racks as "Riley Racks". He led Chicago's bike parking program for several years. Our hearts are broken, but we want to make sure his legacy lives on 💙🚲 Please spread the word
At Friday’s CMAP meeting on DLSD, staff said the Illinois and Chicago transportation departments are going back to the drawing board. Could freeway removals like that of Seoul's Cheonggye Expressway inspire a more people-friendly road layout on our shoreline? chi.streetsblog.org/2026/05/27/c...
watch/listen to the full interview between @aldermanmattmartin.bsky.social and @strongtownschicago.bsky.social about #SingleStair
One Staircase Away: Alderman Matt Martin on Unlocking Chicago's Missing Middle
YouTube video by Strong Towns Chicago
youtube.com
Ald. Martin on single stair: I want people to feel a sense of urgency around this, to say with each new development that gets approved that could use [single stair] but doesn't...that we're losing the opportunity to house more families and people across Chicago
I forgot! There’s this interview with the single stair ordinance sponsor, @aldermanmattmartin.bsky.social with @strongtownschicago.bsky.social
One Staircase Away: Alderman Matt Martin on Unlocking Chicago's Missing Middle
YouTube video by Strong Towns Chicago
youtu.be
Single stair people! We have a subject matter hearing at the relevant Chicago City Council committee on Thursday, June 4, at 10:30 am We’re looking for people to attend (to observe) and to give a public comment on the mic RSVP so we can send you talking points
Flood the Zone: Zoning Committee Subject Matter Hearing on Single Stair
Join housing advocates from at the Zoning Committee meeting on June 4 at 10am for a critical subject matter hearing on Single Stair homes.
eventbrite.com
Dr. Chloe Groome of @strongtownschicago.bsky.social speaks as a proponent. "These reforms empower local, working-class property owners to respond directly to their communities’ needs, rather than relying solely on large developers to deliver new housing."
On Fox 32's Four Star Podcast, host Grant Horne and John discussed Livable Streets issues. At 33:15 we talk about "stroads," a term coined by Strong Towns' Charles Marohn for highway-like streets in urban areas, and how to fix them. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JhM... @strongtownschicago.bsky.social
Speak up against highway expansion on DSLD and for a call, appropriate boulevard at tomorrow's CMAP meeting!
There were 32,660 hit-and-runs in Chicago last year. Nearly a third of all crashes. Behind every one of those numbers, someone's life was changed. A Strong Towns Chicago volunteer put all of it on a dashboard. 🧵
Chicago requires two stairways in apartment buildings above two stories, even small ones on standard 25-foot lots. That rule eats up a lot of space. We built a tool that shows exactly how much 🧵
Join us for a happy hour and panel on land value taxes on 4/30. Panel will feature former Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist, Chief Economist at Redfin Daryl Fairweather, Executive Director of Center for Land Economics Greg Miller, and others. Link in comments!
Did you know most Chicago alders send regular updates directly to residents, and most people have no idea? Enter: the ward newsletter 🧵
ADUs are now legal in 60% of Chicago, up from just 12% during the pilot phase. That means coach houses, garden units, and basement conversions can now be built across most of the city. This is one of the biggest housing policy shifts in years. 📸 BLDG PROJ
🔧 What's Banned on Your Block? 41% of Chicago's land is zoned for single-family homes or two-flats only. That limits housing options and makes it harder for regular people to start businesses. Enter your address and see what's restricted on your block. www.strongtownschicago.org/whats-banned...
Do you really know the city of Chicago's financial position? Where the car crashes in your neighborhood keep happening? Which alders are blocking housing reform? Our volunteers built 11 free tools to dig into questions like these. Starting tomorrow, we're spotlighting one at a time. 🔧
🚇 New episode! We sat down with Acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen to talk about the future of transit in Chicago. Where the CTA is headed, what riders can expect, and why public transit matters for building a stronger city. Listen wherever you get your podcasts! www.strongtownschicago.org/podcast
Podcast — Strong Towns Chicago
strongtownschicago.org
Chicago made the Strongest Town Final Four but we’re up against a Wisconsin trio! Our 2025 highlights: 🏠 ADU legalization + ending parking mandates near transit 🎭 Improv that helped save CTA funding 🧰 Data tools for civic engagement 🚶 Neighborhood walking tours Vote by Fri at strongesttown.com
Home Round 2
Developing a safe, inviting, financially resilient town is hard work. The Strongest Town Contest recognizes the work being done.
strongesttown.com
Strong towns Chicago shirts now available for $25-$30! Buying a shirt will also qualify folks for ST member perks like private slack channels and members only events! Link in comments
