Abundant Housing Illinois

Link to full article in the Chicago Tribune

Chicago, famed for its towering skyline and vibrant culture, has the potential to become even more globally competitive. A promising area for uplifting transformation and growth is the Southwest Side, where I grew up and continue to live. My vision is for this community to emerge as a significant destination for people and businesses. City leaders should harness this potential with innovative planning and a bold vision.

The Southwest Side currently presents itself as a prime opportunity for strategic upzoning from its wide, car-centric streets like Archer Avenue, Cicero Avenue and Pulaski Road and detached single-family homes. These conditions limit foot traffic and reduce economic vitality by deterring storefront activity and weakening our tax base.

In Archer Heights, 20% of households lack a car, yet bike infrastructure is nonexistent, and public transit is often inconvenient. The Orange Line, our sole “L” connection, is hard to access due to surrounding vacant lots or drive-thrus. Residents frequently have to drive to shop or dine, which strains the budgets of our working-class community and increases pollution, adversely impacting our health and quality of life.

To uplift our community, we need to transform the Southwest Side into a thriving aerotropolis — an urban region centered around Midway Airport, promoting seamless connectivity to the airport and the city. By strategically upzoning key arteries such as Archer, Cicero and Pulaski and diversifying land use, we could attract a variety of businesses and housing types. I envision vibrant plazas brimming with shops, restaurants, and cafes, as well as tech startups, corporate headquarters, hotels and entertainment venues.

Wide, protected bike lanes and sidewalks would enhance mobility, and roundabouts at busy intersections would improve traffic flow. Housing options would include multifamily apartments and condos, while light rail or bus rapid transit along these main roads would link Midway to the rest of the city.

Midway Airport, with its approximately 6,500 employees, would be at the heart of this aerotropolis, fostering a bustling urban hub where airport employees, air travelers and locals could live, work and shop within two transit stops of the airport. Enhanced connectivity between commercial and residential areas would boost community wealth and elevate the quality of life for residents.

By leveraging Midway’s existing economic scale and innovative urban planning, Chicago could turbocharge its economic growth through a more resilient Southwest Side and solidify its position as a forward-looking global city.