Limiting Chicago's Downtown Condo Conversion

A record-setting amount of apartments in Chicago were converted into condominiums in 2005, and Mayor Richard Daley has formed a task force to limit the trend which is rapidly diminishing affordable housing in the city.

1 minute read

October 25, 2006, 5:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"Conversions have become a hot political issue in other cities, including Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where politicians and housing advocates have proposed moratoriums on such developments. It's not clear whether the task force would go that far."

A similar conversion boom in the '70s prompted a 40-day moratorium on condo conversions.

"More than a quarter of a century later, with Mayor Daley approaching a re-election campaign, affordable housing is a political issue again. The sustained real estate boom of the previous 10 years has pushed purchase prices - including those for converted apartments - beyond the reach of many in the middle-to-low income brackets."

Tuesday, October 24, 2006 in Crain's Chicago Business

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

7 hours ago - Mass Transit

South LA Wetlands Park in Los Angeles, California.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope

Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

April 28 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Intersection in downtown Sacramento, California with neoclassical building with columns on left.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects

The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.

April 28 - The Sacramento Bee