Opinion: Chicago can't afford to stall on coach houses ordinance
July 22, 2025
By LyLena D. Estabine
Link to full article at Crane's Chicago Business
Chicago had the opportunity to deliver two significant housing reforms, but aldermen’s desire to preserve the political machine got in the way.
On July 16, the Chicago City Council approved an ordinance proposed by Ald. Daniel La Spata, 1st, that would reduce parking requirements for housing in desirable, transit-rich neighborhoods such as mine. Score one for housing development.
Yet, they deferred on another important housing initiative to expand "granny flats" citywide. It’s not too late for city leaders to keep the positive trend in expanding housing options and pass that one too. Together, it will fully unleash housing opportunities in Chicago and help Chicagoans reduce rent costs.
Available research shows ordinances, such as the one just passed that completely removes the strict parking minimums for new residential developments, increase housing affordability. Its passage shows there is opportunity to put aside aldermanic control in pursuit of housing abundance.
Stringent parking mandates hinder builders and make housing more expensive. Above-ground parking in Chicago can cost $29,000 per space to construct and raise rents by 17%. That matters when 43% of Chicago households are already struggling with housing costs. Nearly one in four spend over half of their income just to keep a roof over their heads.
Beyond driving up costs, these mandates can make housing developments on smaller parcels of land completely impossible because there’s not enough room to add a parking spot. These smaller developments are particularly important because, by filling in smaller spaces, they promote walkable neighborhoods that support the city’s professed environmental goals such as reducing pollution. They can also provide a smaller, more affordable source of housing near job centers and community amenities, increasing socioeconomic diversity and family flourishing.
