Metropolitan Planning Council

Interested in learning about zoning? Passionate about your community? Eager to engage in the development process? Join your neighbors for a free hands-on workshop to help Chicagoans understand and engage with zoning and land use.

These sessions are hosted by MPC in partnership with Chicago Public Library (CPL) branches across the city:

Tuesday, October 6 (5:30-7:30pm)
Legler Regional Library, CPL

Wednesday, October 14 (2:00-4:00pm)
Vodak-East Side Branch, CPL

Thursday, October 22 (5:00-7:00pm)
Hall Branch, CPL

Each session covers the same content:
🧐What zoning and land use actually is — and how it shows up in your community
🏘️Hands-on practice: design your own dream community and create a zoning map
📍The history behind zoning in Chicago
🗣️How to show up and engage when zoning and land use decision are being made in your neighborhood

We hope to see you at one of the workshops! Registration is encouraged, but not required: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=W77XhhcemUCMj4UTFMQKprk8Oc9LkB1NmgoKTEP9M25UOEVWWlhJS09CMjZMTTEzTkFNVk9DTUtNUy4u&route=shorturl&mc_cid=5c8ef0a88d&mc_eid=01c03b743c

Interested in learning about zoning? Passionate about your community? Eager to engage in the development process? Join your neighbors for a free hands-on workshop to help Chicagoans understand and engage with zoning and land use.

These upcoming sessions are hosted by MPC in partnership with Chicago Public Library (CPL) branches across the city:

Tuesday, October 6 (5:30-7:30pm)
Legler Regional Library, CPL

Wednesday, October 14 (2:00-4:00pm)
Vodak-East Side Branch, CPL

Thursday, October 22 (5:00-7:00pm)
Hall Branch, CPL

Each session covers the same content: what zoning and land use actually is — and how it shows up in your community; hands-on practice: design your own dream community and create a zoning map; the history behind zoning in Chicago, and how to show up and engage when zoning and land use decision are being made in your neighborhood

We hope to see you at one of the workshops! Registration is encouraged, but not required. Register here: https://bit.ly/4hcRWc2

While MPC’s Horizon Lines proposal was not selected as a winner for the competition, we’re proud to have brought a bold idea for Chicago’s future to the table: strategic highway caps that could reconnect neighborhoods, create new public spaces, and help address our city’s aging infrastructure. We’re grateful to for leading the charge and creating a platform for big, forward-thinking ideas. Thank you for the opportunity to pitch our vision, engage with an incredible group of regional leaders, and be part of a conversation about what’s possible for Chicago. We’re also grateful to for their support with renderings and Jeff Sriver and Mark Hopkins from the Central Area Committee for their support.

And we wish sincere congratulations to the winning proposal and to all of the finalists and honorable mentions who brought ambitious ideas and energy to the inaugural Horizon Lines Competition. We’re leaving this experience inspired by the people and possibilities we encountered—and even more excited to keep exploring bold approaches to building a more connected, equitable, and resilient Chicago. 🏙️🌳

You’re invited! Join MPC and its partners at the End of Summer Mixer THIS WEDNESDAY in Bridgeport. MPC Director Emily Bloom-Carlin will be joining the panel and sharing remarks on the intersections of affordable housing and clean energy that can impact our communities.

See you there!

Two bold visions. One shared idea for Chicago’s future! 🌆

MPC’s strategic highway cap proposal is one of six finalists in ’s inaugural Horizon Lines Competition, while “The Kennedy District: 9 New Parks for Chicago” received an Honorable Mention. We brought the two teams together to explore why highway caps could be a powerful approach to Chicago’s aging infrastructure, and what opportunities they could unlock for the city.

Read the interview and join the conversation: https://metroplanning.org/highway-caps-for-chicagos-future-exploring-a-shared-idea-different-approach/

How do we fund transit-oriented development in the suburbs?

Join us on Wednesday, July 29 in Mount Prospect for a panel conversation with Michael J. Cassady (Mount Prospect), Richard Filler (Harlem Irving Companies, Inc.), Gina Fridberg (Wintrust Commercial Real Estate), and Amanda Orenchuk, AICP (Village of Mundelein), moderated by Audrey Wennink (MPC). The conversation will explore financial and regulatory barriers and solutions.

Learn from experts in our region about innovative financial tools to bring economic growth, walkability, accessibility, and increased transit ridership through TOD to your suburban communities. After the conversation, attendees are invited to join an optional walking tour of nearby TOD sites.

RSVP today! https://bit.ly/4vtiGdm

What if rebuilding our aging expressways could also reconnect our neighborhoods?

Yesterday, Hugo Coronado presented at the second Horizon Lines event (Hosted by Executives Club at Gensler) with a reminder that MPC's highway cap proposal this is about more than infrastructure. It's about the future we choose to build.

As Illinois prepares to invest billions of dollars in rebuilding aging expressways like the Eisenhower, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do more than replace what already exists. We can reconnect communities, create new parks and public spaces, improve Chicago's transit rider experience, strengthen local economies, and build infrastructure that puts people first.

Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation and continues to imagine what's possible for Chicago's future.

Please join us in congratulating James Mark on his appointment to MPC’s Board of Governors! James has an extensive professional background in architecture, planning, transportation services, and industry leadership innovating sustainable solutions. As Chief Strategy Officer for Wight & Company, James has developed award-winning project designs to create positive impacts on the community and environment.

He is well-known throughout the City of Chicago and suburban communities for his leadership and chairmanship on the boards of regional nonprofits in vital social services, environmental protection, land economics and community development. We welcome the expertise he brings and look forward to the contributions he will make at MPC.

Please join us in welcoming Ana Vargas as MPC's new (and first) Chief Communications Officer (CCO)! 🎉 Ana started this spring and brings 15+ years of experience shaping strategic communications for mission-driven organizations across Chicago, including senior roles at Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges of Chicago. Ana brings the perfect mix of experience across government, think tank, and advocacy organizations locally and nationally, and our team is excited to continue collaborating with her.