We can't sustain this intensity of housing price pressure in Chicago, not without losing the fundamental thing that makes this city work for people.

study: not only do apartments reduce emissions through improved energy efficiency and better travel patterns, they also have significantly less embodied carbon per resident than low density housing because they use building materials more efficiently www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

How about making it legal to build courtyard apartment buildings now? #LegalizeHousing @abundanthousingil.bsky.social chicago.suntimes.com/architecture...

Propose & workshop your own legislation (bills and ordinances) at our first Lab on Monday, 6/29 in Lakeview RSVP please!

Skinny boi

Seen in Lakeview. NIMBYs are mad about a potential zoning change for a 28 unit building located 2 blocks from a CTA train station. Please call Alderman Lawson and tell him to push for even more than 28 units!

Illinois's new People Over Parking Act eliminates parking minimums near transit. We explain how this game-changing policy will reshape Chicagoland and downstate development.

Happy pride let's build 500k homes for queer southern refugees

New blog post on the CfB website from yours truly, discussing our four story single-stair proposal that will be in the 2027 IBC. Encourage anyone interested in single-stair to take a look, even if your city/state has already passed it!

Tomorrow!

Spots are running out for the Single-Stair Design Competition Kickoff event in Chicago next week. RSVP today 📆

Ald. Mitchell has a big proactive upzoning coming up on 79th Street. buff.ly/Tx8nGy3

Lowercase-a affordable 2BR/2BA's shrunk significantly because the Chicago Fire Department can't accept even three-story single-stair buildings like the rest of the country has for decades. Rear stairs can't replace single-stair for all lot shapes and zoning. chicago.urbanize.city/post/residen...

Many suburbs also look at their Metra station downtowns as something that can't be replicated nearby without destroying their existing amenity, which is such a zero-sum mindset. The demand is latent, you just need to make it available with more housing and people-scale retail!

Chicago's Department of Buildings is proposing a significant code update today to the city's Committee on Zoning: chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matt... Watch now: www.chicityclerk.com/committee-zo...

"Only about 150 units were built downtown last year, only about 800 are scheduled to be delivered this year. So, just not a lot of new construction happening, people are putting off home-buying and staying in the renter pool for longer."

Once commonly known as the Millinery Mart Building, it served as a hub for manufacturing women’s hats then the offices for Esquire magazine. Soon it will take on its next life as a 252-unit apartment complex.

Chicago is literally the only jurisdiction in America to not allow a three-story apartment building with no more than four units per story to be built with a single stair.

What are the biggest housing wins in Chicago/IL over the last 5-10 years?

I am full of LGBT pride, that's why this pride month, I'm partnering with the zoning board of the city of Chicago to bring you more housing in a safe place for queer folk 🏳️‍🌈🏙️

"UChicago executive director of Chicago Studies & Experimental Learning Chris Skrable said the city initially pushed back on whether a high-density development could be supported in Woodlawn" The city should be supporting dense, walkable, mixed-use, transit oriented development, not impeding it.

rookie numbers

we promise great hanging out weather for our next happy hour, with @swcollectivechi.bsky.social at Marz on Saturday, June 20, 11 AM to 1 PM 📆 RSVP to get reminders

We’re cracking down on hidden junk fees from your rent, groceries, and concert tickets. Illinoisans deserve affordability and transparency — and that’s what they’re going to get.

“Altogether, Woodlawn Central is set to comprise 870 residential units — including workforce housing, market rate, luxury, senior housing, and theater lofts.”

Lots of progress is underway on our multigenerational affordable two-flat renovation with Here to Stay Community Land Trust! Built in 1888, this framed house in Avondale is undergoing a massive transformation for Here to Stay’s first-time home buyers who are long-term residents of the neighborhood.

@cnuchicago.bsky.social is hosting a Single Stair Design Competition this summer! We're looking forward to seeing what local designs might be possible through updated building codes currently under city council consideration. Register for the kickoff on 6/23: www.eventbrite.com/e/single-sta...

@aldermanmattmartin.bsky.social is now speaking about his under-development ordinance of the requirements made on Low Income Housing Tax Credit Qualified Allication plans. It will be held in committee.

3-flat in Wrigleyville getting converted into a 15-unit building. Lets GO: chicagoyimby.com/2026/06/addi...

"Board members of the new Downtown Evanston Residents Association (DERA) outlined a plan to become a major player in downtown affairs, particularly by influencing zoning decisions and opposing new high-rise developments over the next several years."

Infill housing requires around a third less in up-front infrastructure costs, and generate more property taxes than comparable greenfield development. As cities wrestle with budget shortfalls, they should allow more of this type of development. www.vox.com/future-perfe...

“More than 55 acres of vacant parking lots, only about half-full on a normal day, will become a mixed-use district, with restaurants, retail, entertainment and community space, 1,309 total hotel rooms, as well as residences — including 1,900 affordable units.”

great paragraph from a great article on single stair

“A lot of lots remain undeveloped, not because they’re not allowed to build on paper, but because there’s no practical way to get them on small lots,” @urbanistcomic.bsky.social said. “This is a way of unlocking those lots to build more homes, and in a way that allows more family-sized apartments.”

“Not only would the single-stair proposal mitigate costs and allow more housing on smaller lots, but it would also increase the size of the units. With just one staircase, Ald. Martin said developers can include more family-sized housing units with multiple bedrooms, which the city is in need of.”

The Chicago Building Code is already FILLED with tradeoffs between sprinklers and egress, including one here specifically increasing the allowance for a single way out if you provide sprinklers up.codes/viewer/chica...

How apropos: CFD just came to the scene of a … something around the corner from me. Their ladders comfortable reached the roof of a four floor vintage single-stair building on a narrow street and over cars.

You can watch the subject matter hearing on the aingle-stair ordinance here, live now: www.chicityclerk.com/committee-zo...

Here for a city council zoning committee hearing on modification of O2025-0017571, 14B-10-1006, subsection 1006.3.3 allowing single exit of R-2 occupancy buildings meeting certain criteria. This will be a 🧵 on the single-stairway ordinance hearing.

Here with @strongtownschicago.bsky.social at Chicago City Hall to hear about single-stair reform!

600 more homes (including 120 designated affordable) are proposed in four buildings at Sheridan & Thorndale, nestled amongst much taller buildings. Support the project by telling @the48thward.bsky.social why it’s needed 📋 the48thward.org/zoning-feedb...

Zoned DX-16. It's been empty ever since I first came across it in 2019. We need a land value tax so badly.

$320K for a one bedroom in Andersonville is crazy what is going on www.zillow.com/homedetails/...

got time tomorrow morning to speak up in favor of #SingleStair to the city council committee? then sign up here, plz

illinois wen?

Tomorrow, Ald. Lee is having a town hall which will discuss allowing ADUs. This is a great opportunity for 11th Ward residents to support more homes! 🏘️ Ramova Theatre Wednesday, June 3 6-8 pm

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

‘“This isn’t the end of the road,” said Ben Wolfenstein of YIMBY Illinois. Moving forward, Wolfenstein is looking to draw a clearer picture for lawmakers of what midsize housing could look like — two-flats, townhomes, and other structures that could resemble single-family homes.’

HB 5198 didn’t pass the Senate before, but our fight for stronger affordable housing protections is far from over. At the Veto Session, we hope to finish what we started and deliver real progress for our communities. Read the article: evanstonnow.com/clock-is-tic... #ImpactForEquity

‘The act allows NITA to partner with communities to support more ETOD,’ Arias of @elevatedchicago.bsky.social explained. ‘This could mean more affordable or mixed-income housing near transit in high-cost communities, and it could mean more commercial and community space in disinvested areas.’