Connecting Communities on Broadway

Dear Neighbors,

Since summer 2024, our team has been working hard on Connecting Communities on Broadway, a multi-ward project that would take us one step closer to realizing our community’s vision for the future of Broadway from Devon to Montrose, and help address our city’s housing crisis. In the 48th ward, our local businesses are struggling and our naturally occurring affordable housing is being threatened. Our vision is a pedestrian-friendly corridor with thriving businesses and diverse housing stock. Our goal is to implement intentional, transparent development expectations that attract activity and investment along this important corridor. 

Community is at the foundation of this project. In October and December, we hosted two Open Houses where hundreds of neighbors participated in visioning and idea sharing. In January, we hosted a virtual meeting where the Department of Planning and Development presented the draft Broadway Land Use Framework. If you missed it, you can watch the recording here. Through these meetings we discovered that our goals and values have remained essentially the same as previous corridor visioning.

Over the last few months, my team and I have attended block club meetings and other community events to answer questions about the proposal and hear your thoughts. Between December 16, 2024 and February 6, 2025, we collected nearly 1,500 written comments on our online feedback form, and I’m excited to share the results of that feedback with you.

Overall the feedback has been more enthusiastic for the recommendations than negative. Neighbors share the vision for maximizing the city’s $2 billion investment in the Red Line modernization project. From the nearly 1,500 written comments, the following themes emerged:

Themes in support of recommendations

• Enthusiasm to build more housing by transit

• Need to build more housing to address housing affordability/displacement 

• Desire to support small businesses

• Desire to see more investment on the corridor 

• Desire to promote more affordable units in new housing development 

Themes expressing concern about recommendations

• Dislike of taller buildings and modern apartment building design, particularly on the west side of Broadway, north of Foster 

• Worry about potential demolition of lower-scale buildings, resulting in displacement of existing businesses and loss of neighborhood character 

• Concern for loss of parking availability on adjacent residential streets with new development

• Concern for potential future increase in traffic congestion with new development

We have published all 1,480 comments on the project website. You can view the comments by clicking “All Feedback Responses.”

So what’s next? 

The implementation of these plans will take multiple steps and be ongoing. Nothing will change overnight. However, these are important steps towards realizing our community goals for a pedestrian-friendly mixed-use corridor. 

Next week, the Department of Planning and Development will present the Broadway Land Use Framework to the Chicago Plan Commission for their consideration and adoption. The framework translates community priorities for a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use corridor into a tool for future decision-making. Alderwoman Angela Clay, Alderman Matt Martin, and I will be in attendance to speak to the community values behind the framework. The framework does not put any zoning changes into place. 

After the framework is adopted, Alderwoman Clay, Alderman Martin, and I will have the opportunity to implement zoning changes that align with the goals in the framework. Here in the 48th ward, I have heard concerns from neighbors along the west side of Broadway north of Foster about -5 zoning, and am pushing back on the recommendation to zone both sides of Broadway as a -5. I have requested a plan from the Department of Planning and Development that differentiates between the east and west sides of the street, and will keep everyone informed as the zoning ordinance develops.

Once we have a zoning plan to attract activity and investment that reflects our values and aligns with our goals, we’ll submit an ordinance to update zoning along Broadway. This is expected to happen in the coming months. 

Historic preservation is a top priority for our community. We are rich in historic buildings and districts and will continue working with all stakeholders to ensure the historic preservation of our beautiful community for years to come. We don’t see development and historic preservation in opposition. One of the biggest threats to historic preservation is the lack of investment, and we are working hard to ensure investment into our historic buildings and corridors. 

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their engagement and interest in this topic. You make the 48th ward great!

Yours in community,

Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth,
48th Ward Alderwoman