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Hi people on the Cityscape ADU service providers directory, 

I wanted to update you on some things. 

• Ald. Lawson (44th Ward) introduced a substitute ordinance on Tuesday, 4/16/24, completely replacing the text of his proposed ordinance, O2023-2075. <https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=5FC81717-4305-EE11-8F6D-001DD806E1D0>
• Knowing that ADUs would be a minor topic at the Zoning committee on 4/16/24, Urban Environmentalists Illinois organized eight people to give public comment. Here's my own comment: <https://www.stevencanplan.com/2024/04/comment-to-chicagos-committee-on-zoning-about-expanding-adus/>
• Watch this super cut of those comments: <https://vimeo.com/936557902>

What’s in the ordinance?

The big idea is eliminating the five pilot areas and allowing ADUs citywide. Additional provisions would remove the cap on coach house floor area, allow removing existing parking in order to have a grade-level coach house, allowing a coach house and an interior ADU on the same property, and allowing ADUs in B1-3 and C1-2 zoning districts. 

What should you do?

1. I would ask that you email the alderperson of both your home and your office and ask them to support legalizing more homes citywide by co-sponsoring O2023-2075. 
2. Advise your current and prospective clients that later this year they may be able to move forward with design and permitting of ADUs. 

While you’re here, please double check that your listing appears as you want it still. <http://chicagocityscape.com/adu/serviceproviders.php>

And let me know if you’d like to purchase an enhanced listing (with imagery and get listed first). There are three slots: $350, $300, and $250 (for one year). 

I wanted to update you on some things. 

• Ald. Lawson (44th Ward) introduced a substitute ordinance on Tuesday, 4/16/24, completely replacing the text of his proposed ordinance, O2023-2075. <https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=5FC81717-4305-EE11-8F6D-001DD806E1D0>
• Knowing that ADUs would be a minor topic at the Zoning committee on 4/16/24, Urban Environmentalists Illinois organized eight people to give public comment. Here's my own comment: <https://www.stevencanplan.com/2024/04/comment-to-chicagos-committee-on-zoning-about-expanding-adus/>
• Watch this super cut of those comments: <https://vimeo.com/936557902>

What’s in the ordinance?

The big idea is eliminating the five pilot areas and allowing ADUs citywide. Additional provisions would remove the cap on coach house floor area, allow removing existing parking in order to have a grade-level coach house, allowing a coach house and an interior ADU on the same property, and allowing ADUs in B1-3 and C1-2 zoning districts. 

What should you do?

1. I would ask that you email the alderperson of both your home and your office and ask them to support legalizing more homes citywide by co-sponsoring O2023-2075. 
2. Advise your current and prospective clients that later this year they may be able to move forward with design and permitting of ADUs. 

While you’re here, please double check that your listing appears as you want it still. <http://chicagocityscape.com/adu/serviceproviders.php>

And let me know if you’d like to purchase an enhanced listing (with imagery and get listed first). There are three slots: $350, $300, and $250 (for one year). 

Chicago Cityscape overhauled the system to obtain amenities and social infrastructure data so that it can be published more frequently. We are switching from quarterly to monthly updates, and our system allows us to update even sooner than "next month" if there is a need.

Other changes

• We have also added a new categories of fitness centers (gyms and health clubs, and "sports centers", which includes businesses like golf driving ranges, indoor sky diving, and more.
• The total number of assets that we categorize within a one mile walk is now shown in conspicuous red text. 

Chicago Cityscape is also using EveryDoor to speed up the addition and removal of new and closed amenities, and we invite our members to contribute as well. EveryDoor is an app for Apple and Android phones that makes it easy to edit OpenStreetMap, our primary data source for amenities and social infrastructure. While you move about a neighborhood, or are waiting for someone at a restaurant, open the app to add, edit, and remove nearby businesses.

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The three clicks is a promise. First, open a Chicago-based Place Report; Property Finder will open automatically. (For example, open Near West Side community area.)

1. In the Property Finder filters, select the “Developable lots” filter. 
2. In the “Listing status” filter, tick the checkboxes for each of the property types you want to find. 
3. Select the “Apply filters” button. 

In a moment, Chicago Cityscape will show you a map and data table of developable lots for sale in Chicago. The information shown to you will also include a calculation of how many homes each property allows based on its current zoning district. 

These filters combined can find excellent new construction and redevelopment opportunities. For example, we found a one-story commercial building for sale in the West Loop which is zoned to allow seven apartments or condos. 

You might be wondering, what’s a developable lot? Our definition of developable lots comprises properties that meet all of these criteria:

• Low-intensity land use (parking lots, one-story commercial buildings, side yard, vacant lots, car repair and gas stations)
• In a zoning district with an FAR of 2.0 or higher, which means that a building on the property can have a floor area of two times, or more, the lot area. Or is in an RM-5, RM-5.5, RM-6, or RM-6.5 zoning district.
• Within a transit-served location (meaning within 1/2 mile of a CTA or Metra rail station, or within 1/4 mile of a CTA bus route that has higher-frequency service in the middle of the day). 

Chicago Cityscape updates properties for sale once a day; the criteria listed above are updated as needed or as properties change. 

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