Center for Neighborhood Technology

Our Equitable Transit-Oriented Development calculator is live on our website to help you document - or decide - how to develop green affordable projects within the city of Chicago. If you're not familiar you can check it out at https://lnkd.in/giJyy-nY. If you are a current or past user, we'd like your feedback, take our survey here: bit.ly/etodsurvey What is ETOD? Equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) works to ensure that people of all incomes experience the benefits of dense, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented development near train and bus stops.

Shout out to IFF and Rudd Resources LLC for their support, as part of our Elevated Works project, for Duo Development's cool new Starling coffeehouse and community space in North Lawndale. And, of course, to the inspiring Robles siblings who conceived, planned, partnered, and delivered the project - which BTW, is available to host your holiday parties! We profiled the new equitable transit-oriented development project that celebrated its grand opening a month or so back on our website this week: https://lnkd.in/grUnrDYf

Congrats to Calumet City for cutting the ribbon on a new green alley with RainReady support yesterday! When Cook County Government asked us to make resident-driven RainReady plans a reality in 2022, using post-pandemic recovery funds, we convened resident committees in six south suburban towns. In Calumet City, the city’ s Senior Advisory Commission considered multiple green stormwater infrastructure options and ultimately chose to invest in a green alley and a busy intersection near a daycare?(coming soon!) Yesterday the new green alley, just east of Burnham Avenue near 153rd Street, got the blue-ribbon treatment: Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus M. Jones (with scissors), with leaders from Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and other officials celebrated its opening. Using permeable pavers, Calumet City’s seven green alleys can store up to 447,000 gallons total per rain event according to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Daniel Pogorzelski.?Congrats and thanks also to our colleagues helping make the project happen, at Greenprint Partners.

Thanks Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning for this nice profile of CMAP board member, and Center for Neighborhood Technology CEO, Nina Idemudia, AICP!

Southeast Environmental Task Force recently hosted an incredible boat tour along the hyper-industrialized yet stunningly beautiful Calumet River! Attendees got an up-close look at this unique waterway, surrounded by both industrial landmarks and nature. Fun Fact: The sheets many attendees are holding in the photos are from the Advocates Guide to Land Use Decisions Along the Calumet River—a resource Paulina Vaca created for SETF a while back!

On November 16th at 1pm, ICJC is co-hosting a rally at Tod Park in East Chicago, IN with Just Transition Northwest Indiana, Chicago Southeast Environmental Task Force, Earthjustice, WeAct for Environmental Justice, and Sierra Club. The rally will take place just across the Illinois border, near the BP Whiting refinery, which plans to produce dirty hydrogen as part of the MachH2 Hydrogen Hub proposed for Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Join ICJC and allies from Indiana and Michigan to say NO to these harmful projects. Register here: https://lnkd.in/g84-D545

What can be accomplished when we address housing and climate justice in an integrated way—across planning and law? Can we redress the damage done to communities’ health and wealth through leveraging political power? Join us next Wednesday for our third Visionary Voices conversations.?One week after the federal election, these questions—and the need to work together rather than in silos of ‘different issues’—?are even more important. We’ll be holding space to process and discuss where we go from here, as well. More details and registration here: https://lnkd.in/gurQ-7-r (Free, but please let us know if you plan to attend).

Congrats to Union of Concerned Scientists on their new report, Freedom to Move: Investing in Transportation Choices for a Clean, Prosperous, and Just Future. This research highlights how supporting transit, walking, and biking is a win for the planet, the economy, and equity. Their findings show that by improving transportation options and reducing driving, we could save up to $201 billion in energy infrastructure, $128 billion in public health costs, and an incredible $5.9 trillion in vehicle ownership costs by 2050. This offers a powerful climate solution beyond the car-dependent status quo! (Proud to share that our H+T Index and AllTransit data were used in the analysis, and some of our team helped with the review.) Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/gGqn8d6P

Webinar for Rural Communities on applying for Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity (MATI) support set for November 19 This informational webinar will introduce the Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity (MATI) program and offer an overview of its upcoming Request for Proposals (RFP) for Round 2 of the program. The program recently received an additional $1.246 million to run a second round of the program focused on addressing transportation insecurity in smaller communities and rural areas of America. Learn more about applying on this webinar, 1 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 19. https://lnkd.in/gYeQRxzj

The State of Illinois is working on a plan to improve the experience of taking buses and trains in cities and towns across the state. Share your thoughts on current public transportation, including your needs, concerns, and priorities, by filling out this quick survey. Whether you're a frequent rider or don’t use public transit at all, your feedback is important! The survey is open through Fall 2024: https://bit.ly/3YJWYEG