Facing the potential for accessory dwelling units to win swift legalization in Chicago inspires one columnist to push back.
The city of Chicago banned the development of coach houses, the local term used to describe accessory dwelling units, in 1957, and according to Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn, the city failed to ask, or answer, the following question: "Do we really want to ban them?"
Face forward to 2020, and the Chicago City Council is considering an ordinance to legalize ADUs with the support of Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Now, writes Eric Zorn, the city should ask itself the opposite question: "Do we really want to lift this ban?"
According to Zorn, the city had good reasons to implement the ban, like concerns about parking and neighborhood character. Zorn also advocates for a local veto of ADU enabling zoning changes: "The proposed change contains no provision for precincts to vote to exempt their areas from the construction of ADUs and no limit on the number of external, back-of-the-lot cottages or internal basement apartments that could open up in any one block."
FULL STORY: Column: Wait a sec! Is it really time to re-legalize granny flats 63 years after Chicago banned them?
Strong Demand in the First Month of Chicago's Coach House Pilot Program
The first month of a three-year pilot program that legalizes the construction and conversion of coach houses—a local form of accessory dwelling unit—is responding to strong demand in Chicago.
ADU Ordinance Ready for City Council Scrutiny in Chicago
Chicago residents will have the option of building coach houses or convection units if a new law passes as written through the Chicago City Council.
Mayor Lightfoot Expected to Push for Legal Coach Houses in Chicago
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is expected to introduce legislation that would relax zoning restrictions on coach houses, known widely as accessory dwelling units, in the city of Chicago.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Downtown Los Angeles on the Rise: A Promising 2025
Fueled by new developments, cultural investments, and a growing dining scene, downtown Los Angeles is poised for significant growth in 2025, despite challenges from recent wildfires and economic uncertainties.
Supporting Indigenous Land Reclamation Through Design
Harvard students collaborated with the Sac and Fox Nation to develop strategies for reclaiming and co-managing ancestral lands in Illinois, supporting Indigenous sovereignty through design, cultural storytelling, and economic planning.
A Plan to Expand Tree Canopy Across Dayton
Dayton is developing an urban forest master plan, using a $2 million grant to expand its tree canopy, address decades of tree loss, and enhance environmental equity across the city.
Decarbonizing Homes: The Case for Electrifying Residential Heating
A new MIT study finds that transitioning residential heating from natural gas to electric heat pumps can significantly reduce carbon emissions and operational costs.
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.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research