“A city-led plan to control development along Milwaukee Avenue with a special zoning district that’s been in the works for over a year is inching forward.
“A draft design of a plan that would make a Logan Square and Avondale portion of the 11-mile diagonal thoroughfare — between Western and Ridgeway avenues — a ‘special character overlay district’ was released last month and shared at two community meetings last week.
“The draft is based on feedback from community stakeholders. Officials with the city’s Department of Planning and Development, which is leading the effort, have gathered the feedback since last year.
“The special zoning district is meant to preserve the corridor’s character and give the community a greater voice in development, and it includes guidelines on existing building modifications and new construction. The plan excludes landmarked buildings.
“Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th), one of three alderpeople working on the plan, said it will streamline the community input process and make it easier for developers and investors to build along the strip.
“‘Rather than you having to go through an ad hoc design process that may change from time to time and that may look different every single time, we wanted to give you clear guidance and certainty, because one of the things that we heard time and time again from investors and developers is that [they] want certainty,’ Ramirez-Rosa said.
“As the stretch has seen changes from large developments, more businesses and storefront vacancies, the special district aims to create uniform guidelines that will make the area’s developments more ‘cohesive and appealing’ for newcomers as well as longtime owners, said Carmen Martinez, the Northwest Side region planner with the Department of Planning and Development. Martinez has worked on the proposal since 2022.
“‘The plan addresses how to make [development] appealing to new businesses while maintaining existing buildings and still keeping investment in the community,’ Martinez said.” (Parrella-Aureli, Block Club Chicago, 4/22/24)