CHICAGO | General Developments - v2.0

[Chi-Sky21]

WOW! Nice pics! Not something you see floating down the river every day! That is much larger section than what i thought it would be.

[Randomguy34]

One of the most significant changes to Chicago's zoning code just dropped. The proposed ordinance would do two things:

1) For non-RS zoning districts, eliminate minimum lot area and per units requirements! This means you can now propose as many units as you want in a development as long as it fits building code requirements.

2) For non-RS zoning districts, units with 3 or more bedrooms no longer count towards FAR! This means a building with only 3+ bedrooms can have unlimited FAR as-of-right!

This would easily lead to a complete chsnge in the type of buildings that can now be proposed in the city. This is with the caveat that aldermanic prerogative might still prevent certain new developments, but at least as-of-right developments have less restrictions now Here's the ordinance: https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=905A1F21-70B7-F111-AAAC-001DD80B58E5

[left of center]

Wow. What are the odds this get passed by the council?

[Randomguy34]

Since it doesn't impact RS districts, I don't think it'll antagonize SFH alders like BUILD or the ADU ordinance did. These type of unofficial upzones, where you change the rules of zoning rather than do explicit upzones, are historically easier to pass. However, I'm not sure if it'll be heads or tails.

I know a lot of alders, even the NIMBY ones, are complaining that there isn't enough development in the city and it's hurting budget revenues, buuuut they don't want developments in their ward.

[left of center]

Hopefully this bill finds itself getting passed without it being completely gutted to the point of being useless.

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

I know a lot of alders, even the NIMBY ones, are complaining that there isn't enough development in the city and it's hurting budget revenues, buuuut they don't want developments in their ward.

That tracks, but God is it frustrating...

[Cress3803]

very cool bridge shots

[Randomguy34]

Sweet, Ald. Lawson is proposing an ordinance to have bay rooms not count towards FAR for 1-4 unit buildings! This should mean the return of sunrooms in Chicago and more interesting 4-flat designs: https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=71764E09-6EB7-F111-AAAC-001DD80B58E5

There's clearly demand for Chicago infill to have sunrooms. Here's a new SFH under-construction in Bronzeville, it looks like a minimalist take on the classic 2-flat


https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/530-E-44th-Pl-60653/home/21873047

[Steely Dan]

^ That would be awesome!

I'd love to see a return of the bay in pir residential vernacular.

[pip]

Wait a second. In new construction Bay windows are currently not allowed? If so who thinks of these things?

What does this mean? "Ald. Lawson is proposing an ordinance to have bay rooms not count towards FAR for 1-4 unit buildings!"

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by pip

Wait a second. In new construction Bay windows are currently not allowed? If so who thinks of these things?

They're allowed, but as with any other interior space, they count toward FAR (Floor Area Ratio: the amount of interior square footage you can build on a given size lot).

Most builders want to maximize FAR as cheaply as possible, so we get a lot boxes.

This proposal would make the additional square footage of a front bay "free" from an FAR perspective, like a bonus amount, and I imgaine a lot of the builders I work with would take full advantage of that if it comes to pass.

[Busy Bee]

Happy news.

[Randomguy34]

Construction permits issued for 136 N Kedzie


https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/full-building-permit-issued-hub-32

[Jstange059]

Foundation work is still underway

[Jstange059]

You can see the contours of the future brick facade in the CMU structural walls

[Jstange059]

[Jstange059]

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

Construction permits issued for 136 N Kedzie


https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/full-building-permit-issued-hub-32

Even though I know it wouldn’t be under construction yet, I still wanted to head out to see the site. Definitely excited to see the empty lot go, should really improve the environment around the station

[Jstange059]

Unfortunately, this old firehouse will soon be demolished, but it will be to expand the nearby Kells park and build a new fieldhouse

Background information: https://www.pbcchicago.com/wp-content/up...e_100SchematicDesignPackage_20250317.pdf
Wish they would have integrated the firehouse into the field house

[bucktown]

Originally Posted by left of center

Hopefully this bill finds itself getting passed without it being completely gutted to the point of being useless.



That tracks, but God is it frustrating...

This is a big work around for the affordable housing ordinance which is stifling development. I see the biggest impact in in the B and C dash 2 districts. The current 1,000 MLA is way too high to make many viable. And rezoning for anything over 9 units triggers the affordable housing ordinance. The increased supply will do more for making housing more affordable than the the ordinance.

[Jstange059]

Don’t really know anything about this project, but it’s going to be a 5 story 40 unit building on a formerly industrial lot on a rather industrial part of Grand Ave. The construction only takes up western half of their site which spans between Christiana to Spaulding, so presumably there will be a second phase of the project which will build up the Spaulding corner. While I could not find any renderings for the project, it’s a John C Hanna building so you pretty much know what the building will look like, but it seems like it will have pretty good facade depth and the 2 brick tones may be interesting

DDS 2019 CBC DDS 2019 CBC: FULL BUILDING PERMIT FOR 5 STORY 40 D.U. BUILDING WITH BASEMENT, 21 CAR GARAGE AT IST FLOOR, 3
EXTERIOR PARKING SPACES ON CONCRETE PAD, DECK AT 2ND STORY OVER PORTION OF GARAGE, DECK AT 1ST THRU 5TH STORY, BALCONY AT 3RD THRU STH STORY, ROOFTOP STAIR ENCLOSURE, ELEVATOR OVER-RUN, 1 EXTERIOR LOADING BERTH, ENTIRE BUILDING SPRINKLERED, 6' HIGH MASONRY TRASH ENCLOSURE, 40 ON-SITE BICYCLE PARKING SPACES AS PER PLAN (OCCUPANCY GROUP R-2, S-2, TYPE ILA CONSTRUCTION). CONSULTANT REVIEWER: V3 COMPANIES OF IL

[Via Chicago]

Recently completed Little Village infill. A bit off the beaten path (2300 s human) for new market rate construction