Chicago is to pledge $160,000 in microgrants to 11 projects that promote walkable neighbourhoods as part of the Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) Pilot Program.
The US city is providing each winner up to $20,000 as part of a collaboration with Elevated Chicago and Enterprise Community Partners.
Mayor of Chicago Lori E. Lightfoot says: "Our ultimate goal with the ETOD programme is to maximise the benefits that high-quality, affordable and reliable transit provides to our communities. Each of these 11 projects will help us fulfil this mission in an equitable and community-conscious way, as well as help to improve the overall wellbeing of our residents.”
Gia Biagi, Chicago Department of Transportation commissioner, says: “The ETOD pilots are a great demonstration of how communities and cities can work together to leverage our existing transportation assets. Being able to walk or bike comfortably to transit is critical to the well-being of a neighbourhood, and we look forward to partnering with the grantees to improving walkability and supporting these pilot projects.”
Aside from walkability, the projects will also focus on public art improvements near transit and affordable housing. They include:
• Briget's Bodega, 125 W. 95th St., Roseland
• Coalition Food Hall, 2800 W. Madison St., East Garfield Park
• Homan-Harrison Mixed-Use Development Project, 600 S. Homan Ave., East Garfield Park
• Equity Arts Project, 1500 N. Milwaukee Ave., West Town
• Food Matters, 435 E. 43rd St., Grand Boulevard
• Gateway 79, State and 79th streets, Chatham
• Overton Center of Excellence, 221 E. 49th St., Grand Boulevard
• Albany Park Plaza, 3300 W. Lawrence Ave., Albany Park
• Cross the Street: Art on Clark, Rogers Park
• Emmett Street Apartments Public Art and Placemaking, 2614 N. Emmett St., Logan Square
• 35th/Archer Orange Line ETOD Vision Project, 3528 S. Leavitt St., McKinley Park
The pilot programme was launched as an early implementation of the city’s ETOD Policy Plan adopted by the Chicago Plan Commission in June. The plan is seeking to place investment in transit-oriented projects on the South, West and Southwest sides of the city while also promoting affordability in the North and Northwest.
