March/April Updates
It’s been a busy month. We have tons of updates and upcoming events so let’s get into it!
In The News
Housing
HB1813 and HB1814 successfully passed out of committee! If passed, HB1813 will legalize accessory-dwelling units statewide. And HB1814 would allow for more missing middle (2-flats, 4-flats) depending on lot size and municipality population. While these aren’t done deals yet, these bills are now on a much more positive trajectory toward becoming law. These bills originally didn’t get a hearing on March 19th during their scheduled time. However, a special hearing was called to push them forward after receiving hundreds of letters and phone calls, many of which from Strong Towns members. Thank you to everyone who wrote and called this past week!
Also, reminder to our Evanston friends that there is an important election Monday, April 1, that will largely dictate the future of Missing Middle Housing. Don’t forget to vote!
Safe Streets
There were positive developments on several safe streets bills. SB1507, SB1559, SB2111, and SB1521 all had calendar orders established for future readings or committee deadlines established, an encouraging sign in the legislative process!
Respectively, these bills would establish studies on how automated traffic enforcement could increase safe driving habits on Lake Shore Drive, commission IDOT to conduct a traffic study following a pedestrian fatality, legally permit contraflow bike riding, and expand ebike rebates. Check out this deck made by our friends at Safe Streets Union for more details!
Parking Reform
Strong Towns members have been meeting with aldermanic offices trying to find a sponsor for an ordinance to eliminate parking mandates. We’ve had some positive conversations but no firm commitments as of yet. Keep emailing your alder expressing support for parking reform!
Strong Towns Updates
Nonprofit status
Strong Towns Chicago is now a registered nonprofit in the state of Illinois! This enables us to fundraise so we can host more public events and build stronger advocacy coalitions with like-minded organizations fighting for abundant housing, safe streets, and effective transportation. For example, in February, Strong Towns Chicago joined the IL Homes For All coalition pushing to legalize Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and apartment buildings up to four units statewide. The inaugural board members of Strong Towns Chicago are myself (Aaron Feldman) as Secretary, Alex Montero as Chairperson, Chloe Groome as Treasurer, and Neil Stein. More updates to come on what this means for the future of our organization!
Mission Statement
The board finalized our mission statement as an organization: Strong Towns Chicago empowers neighborhoods to incrementally build a more financially resilient city from the bottom up, through abundant housing, safe streets, and effective transportation.
Missing Middle Panel
Along with Abundant Housing Illinois, we co-hosted a panel on Missing Middle Housing. You can watch the recording here. Also, our graphic designer Sophie Calhoun did an amazing job prepping this informational handout for the event! We recommend printing this out to distribute to legislators should you meet with them!
Organization Growth
We’ve grown exponentially as an organization which is worth celebrating! Since May 2024, we’ve seen the following growth:
Email List: +270% (270 to 1,000 people)
Slack Members: +171% (156 to 424 people)
Instagram Followers: +124% (~500 to 1,124 people)
Most of our current membership is from the North and Northwest sides. Attracting more members from Chicago’s South, Southwest, and West sides is a priority for 2025, so please help spread the word about Strong Towns to your friends and colleagues across the city!
Tactical Urbanism
Tactical urbanism leads Eddie Lehwald and Caleb Schemmel met to build our first bus bench! Be on the lookout for how members can get involved with bus bench initiatives. Updates to come!
Upcoming Events
Members Meeting - Wednesday, 4/2/25, 6:30pm, Near North Branch Library
We have begun hosting monthly members meetings! The point of these meetings is to bring members up-to-speed on pending legislation, current Strong Towns initiatives, ways to get involved, and to meet new people. It will be held every first Wednesday of every month. Slack Sam Kovnar if you have things you’d like to add as discussion topics!
Local Advocacy 101 - Saturday, 4/12/25, 1:30pm, West Loop Branch, Chicago Public Library
Join us for a free Strong Towns Chicago Workshop to learn crucial skills to advocate for your neighborhood! Lead by our very own Chloe Groome!
Near West Side Walking Tour - 4/19, 1pm, Damen Green Line Station
Join us for a walk in the Near West Side neighborhood surrounding the United Center and for discussions of the 1901 Project Development (image to the left is a potential rendering of future development). It will be led by our #neighborhood-walks lead, Cori Dahl! Also, check out Chloe’s great national blog on the upcoming development to the area.
Book Club - Saturday, 5/10/25
Location and time still TBD! Join the #books channel in slack to confirm the location and time closer to the date. This month, we’ll be reading ‘Don’t Go’ by Tonika Lewis! This book addresses the harmful impacts of “don’t go” messaging and the segregation it perpetuates in Chicago.
As always, be sure to join us on our email list, Slack, Instagram, and BlueSky if you’re not already!
-Aaron Feldman, Strong Towns Chicago Secretary
