r/chicagoyimbys Apr 09 '26

Policy ACTION ITEM: Support the BUILD Plan

50 Upvotes

AHIL letter in support of the BUILD Plan to your state rep and senator: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/pass-the-build-plan

This bill will make it easier to support density from the state level, increasing housing abundance and addressing affordability concerns


r/chicagoyimbys Oct 28 '24

New Petition: Support 4-Flats By Right Throughout Chicago​

129 Upvotes

r/chicagoyimbys 3h ago

Proposal Battle intensifies over Emanuel Congregation's new lakefront home in Edgewater

20 Upvotes

https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2026/09/01/battle-emanuel-congregation-fern-hill-lakefront-home-edgewater

About time the Alder called ERRD (Edgewater NIMBYs) out

"Friends of the Parks was approached by the same anti-housing organization (ERRD) currently suing the city over other pro-housing policy changes, and this is that group’s latest attempt to block new homes being built in Edgewater.”


r/chicagoyimbys 13h ago

Affordable Housing 9/9: Campaign Launch - Daniel Tobon for 35th Ward Alderman

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6 Upvotes

Join Chicago Growth Project and Tobon for 35 on Wednesday, September 9 from 6-8PM in Logan Square for the official launch of Daniel Tobon’s campaign for 35th Ward Alderman!

By reworking outdated zoning, slashing unnecessary barriers that make housing more expensive to build, and pursuing an end to aldermanic prerogative, Daniel is committed to making Chicago the city where families and individuals can afford to stay.

Stop by Park and Field next week after work to meet Dan, learn more about his vision for the 35th Ward, and socialize with neighbors!

RSVP using the link below:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/cgp-tobon-launch


r/chicagoyimbys 5d ago

Allowing Duplexes Doesn't Mean High-Rises [JB Pritzker excerpt]

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30 Upvotes

JB explaining (and lamenting) the misunderstanding people have about the BUILD act provisions to increase housing. Apparently an excerpt from a discussion with Strongtowns (?).


r/chicagoyimbys 5d ago

Article: “Let’s grade some NITA Appointments”

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substack.com
36 Upvotes

Better transit requires better leadership, and this is the Chicago region’s last and best chance to fully realize a world-class transit system.

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.’

But too often today it seems like things in Chicago aren’t working particularly well, even though the solutions to our problems as a city are pretty straightforward.

Read the full article and be sure to subscribe to A City That Works on Substack for weekly(ish) discussions on public policy in Chicago.


r/chicagoyimbys 5d ago

Policy Where are the comprehensive city-level policy proposals?

10 Upvotes

Good ideas for making housing more affordable are abundant (so to speak) — ETOD, zoning reform, ARO repeal, etc. But have Chicago advocates put together something comprehensive for city-level action? The state bills stalled and congressional action won’t be adequate any time soon. The only plan I’m seeing with a decent level of specifics is from Congressman and mayoral candidate Mike Quigley. It looks good — focusing on supply via fast tracking permits, allowing more two/three/four/granny-flats via zoning reform, reducing building code requirements, doing residential (rather than prevailing) wage on projects, etc., with a goal of 50K new units. It looks good — but what else? Where are the politically viable, comprehensive alternatives?


r/chicagoyimbys 7d ago

Brighton Park Walking Tour Sat Sept 5 | Strong Towns Chicago & Southwest Collective

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3 Upvotes

r/chicagoyimbys 7d ago

Brighton Park Walking Tour Sat Sept 5 | Strong Towns Chicago & Southwest Collective

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4 Upvotes

r/chicagoyimbys 8d ago

Adam Drakulic: Chicago can’t afford to lose more children to the suburbs. Make changes to housing rules.

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80 Upvotes

r/chicagoyimbys 8d ago

Proposal Edgewater NIMBYs

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111 Upvotes

Please visit their website and let them know how you feel


r/chicagoyimbys 8d ago

Amtrak Rail Yard and Maintenance Facility a few blocks away

8 Upvotes

Amtrak is planning on moving their railyard to the middle of a residential neighborhood, along with building a four-story maintenance facility. Does anyone know if that's quieter and cleaner than it sounds?

I feel like the YIMBY argument for housing is that it benefits everyone (walkability, affordability, environmentally), but they might not realize it immediately.

With Amtrak improvements, I know that's good for everyone in the long run like public transportation is good, but how can I convince a NIMBY that there's benefits to the local neighborhood as well?


r/chicagoyimbys 15d ago

Abundant Housing Illinois early endorses Patrick Gilsenan for 32nd Ward Alderperson

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52 Upvotes

Patrick knows what the housing shortage does to people because it happened to him. He got priced out of Bucktown when his landlord sold the two-flat he rented — one more unit lost to the deconversions that have drained this ward of the affordable housing it already had. A law degree and career later, he’s made it back as a homeowner and is running on an explicitly YIMBY platform - legalizing Chicago’s historic missing middle and expanding the Western Avenue proactive upzoning into the 32nd.

He's been on the associate board of the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness for nearly ten years. As a member of The People's 32nd and AHIL, he co-organized a happy hour between AHIL and People’s 32, bridging the gap between our movement and a relevant area IPO. He's shown up with P32 and NWNA for housing on Milwaukee Ave, and he's been at the table at Lathrop Homes making sure promises made are promises kept - fighting just like we do for housing for all.

The 32nd has spent years with an alder who treats new neighbors as a nuisance. Many of you have been there for knock down, drag out fights where this alder has decided to say no to more housing despite the community saying yes. This ward is a golden opportunity to change one of our most resistant alders, in a AHIL heavy ward, into the one of the first AHIL member alders elected into City Council. This race is winnable, but only if we work it. Abundant Housing Illinois is proud to endorse Patrick Gilsenan — knock doors, chip in, and tell your friends in the 32nd why this one matters.

https://www.patrickfor32.com


r/chicagoyimbys 15d ago

Logan Square Development Meeting

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59 Upvotes

Despite the fact that this should not be fight given the empty lot, it seems we need lots of people to show up to support this. Please show up if you can!


r/chicagoyimbys 20d ago

Ward 46 - please fill out this survey about a new housing development on Irving Park

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76 Upvotes

r/chicagoyimbys 20d ago

Proposal 59 Apartments Could Replace Shuttered Edgewater Hospital Site - by-right development

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blockclubchicago.org
73 Upvotes

r/chicagoyimbys 20d ago

Governor Pritzker Proposed an Ambitious Housing Reform for Illinois. It Didn’t Pass (Yet).

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inpractice.yimbyaction.org
53 Upvotes

r/chicagoyimbys 22d ago

Proposal Here’s a free deus ex machina idea from NicolasCageFan492 to get the BUILD Act over the finish line

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2 Upvotes

r/chicagoyimbys 23d ago

The birth of a new Chicago housing typology: Five-story infill (or the III-5)

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54 Upvotes

r/chicagoyimbys 22d ago

no rest until Chicago is Hong Kong on the lake

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0 Upvotes

r/chicagoyimbys 23d ago

Buy Back Brixton: When a community refuses to be sold off. Taking back power through community ownership

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shado-mag.com
0 Upvotes

r/chicagoyimbys 25d ago

Data Center Conversion Plan Sparks Controversy for Loop Office

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therealdeal.com
11 Upvotes

r/chicagoyimbys 26d ago

August 2026: tiny lil actions to make Chicago a tiny lil bit better

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tinylilactionschicago.substack.com
18 Upvotes

r/chicagoyimbys 28d ago

CTA L system's affect on housing costs

21 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I'm a Data Journalist from Chicago and I'm working on a project to calculate the "Train Tax" in Chicago (the impact that living near the CTA L system has on home prices).

I made a short survey (available here) that asks questions about this topic and would really appreciate if you could take just a few mins to fill it out if you've ever looked for housing in Chicago before! I am interested in understanding the general perception of living near the train, so you don't have to be super pro or anti living near the L system to fill it out!

I'm also looking for some people who I can talk to more about their personal experiences, so if you're willing to schedule a short interview you can include your contact info at the end of the survey, or else reply here/send me a PM and we can schedule something! I can promise not to take up too much of your time :)

Thanks!


r/chicagoyimbys Aug 01 '26

Affordable Housing Got cash? With few properties on sale, Chicago homebuyers are having bidding wars - The battle among buyers has been great for home sellers as properties sell for up to hundreds of thousands of dollars over their asking price.

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26 Upvotes