Congratulations to Eleanor Gorski on her appointment as Acting Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development by Mayor Lori Lightfoot in May 2019.

Preservation Chicago extends our highest recommendation for her permanent assignment to this position!

In her new role, Gorski leads the Department of Planning and Development’s economic development, zoning, and planning bureaus while fostering community-improvement projects and initiatives throughout the city. She also serves on the Chicago Plan Commission , Community Development Commission and the Commission on Chicago Landmarks .

Gorski’s extensive DPD career began in 1996. She served in multiple roles, including Director of Historic Preservation and, most recently, Bureau Chief of Planning, Historic Preservation and Sustainability.

She has led dozens of departmental projects and initiatives, including the Neighborhood Opportunity Bonus , the five-year rehabilitation plan for Wrigley Field, the Fulton Market Innovation District Plan , the North Branch Framework Plan , and the new Chicago River Design Guidelines .

A licensed architect, Commissioner Gorski received her bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and her master’s in architecture from the University of Illinois. She is a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome as well as the University of Chicago Civic Leadership Academy. She lives in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood.

Additional Reading

Chicago Department of Planning and Development Press Release