| Next Communities tackles affordable housing; City Council weighs in
by Chelsea Keenan on 5/15/2007 09:44:00 AM
Ah, driving. Environmentally irresponsible, perhaps, yet a great time to listen to NPR.
This morning on 848, Steve Edwards addressed yesterday's City Council vote on an affordable housing initiative. The bill backed by Mayor Daley passed easily. From the Chicago Tribune:
"Daley's plan will require developers to set aside 10 percent of homes in projects of 10 units or more where city land is sold, where a zoning change increases density or alters the designation to residential, or where special city approval is otherwise needed." Read the full article here.
I couldn't help but think of our Next Communities project fast-approaching (performances are Saturday and Sunday here and at Lifeline in Rogers Park) and how incredibly timely our discussion with the audience will be this weekend. Some are celebrating the vote, while other advocates argue that by taking median incomes of affluent and suburban neighborhoods into account when figuring "affordable" rates, these newly designated homes will still not be accessible by those who need them most. And isn't this exactly what we are asking with this year's Next Communities project? How does an area as diverse as Evanston and Rogers Park serve ALL it's neighbors?
I look forward to a lively education and discussion with the very folks living these questions at this weekend's presentations. Let me know your thoughts here and bring your ideas, your questions and your opinions to the theatre this weekend.Labels: Next Communities
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I wish I'd heard that 848 program... unless I'm wrong, Evanston Mayor Lorraine Morton vetoed exactly such a proposal earlier this year... I understand that aldermen in Evanston are working on a compromise proposal.
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