City proposes downtown zoning reforms

The city is proposing some progressive measures that would spur affordable housing and address traffic congestion as part of an overhaul of Chicago’s outdated zoning code.
Taking a market-based approach, the city would allow developers to build denser projects downtown if they included affordable units in the mix. A builder could add four extra market-rate units for each affordable unit he built under the proposal. Developers also could get the zoning bonus by contributing to a fund for low-income housing.

Another measure would limit parking in new residential highrises to address concerns about growing traffic congestion in the central area. Builders who include more than two parking spaces per unit in their buildings would in effect pay a penalty because they then would be allowed fewer condo units.

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