A call for a responsible, community-driven rezoning of Broadway

Edgewater Residents for Responsible Development (previously ERB) - NewsStar - Apr. 9, 2025 - (pdf)

By The Edgewater Residents for Broadway Coordinating Committee Kevin Baliozian, Lynda Brodsky, Sandy Chaet, Caitlin Duernick, Joe Dunne, Marjorie Fitz- Birch, Kathy Gemperle, Robert Gerovski, Brian Haagn, John Holden, Steve Hutton, Tabb Lemons, Jack Markowski, Harris Meyer, Jacob Pomeranz, Andrea Raila, Pat Sharkey, Carole Silver, Mindy Turbov, Mike Volini, Jim Wyman

Despite vocal opposition from her constituents, on April 16, Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth [48th] introduced an ordinance to the City Council that would enact the Dept. of Planning and Development’s proposed blanket upzoning of 1.5 miles of Broadway and key cross streets—stretching from Foster to Devon—to an unprecedented B3-5 zoning classification.

Edgewater Residents for Broadway [ERB], a grassroots coalition of neighbors who are deeply committed to a community-driven process for preserving and expanding affordable housing and revitalizing the local business corridor on Broadway, have developed an alternative vision. ERB’s Win-Win Roadmap for Responsible Rezoning is a balanced proposal aimed at achieving the goals of affordability, livability, and diversity —while maintaining the buildings and businesses on Broadway and the community fabric that make Edgewater unique.

While we are disheartened by the Alderwoman’s decision to advance a sweeping rezoning measure without broad consensus, we believe there remains an opportunity for meaningful engagement and compromise before the ordinance is considered by the City Council Zoning Committee in May.

We urge Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth to bring the community together around a more thoughtful and nuanced approach. Following below are the key components of the Win-Win Roadmap for Responsible Rezoning:

1. Central Broadway – Master Plan for CTA Parcels & Bryn Mawr Historic District

→ Develop these important central parcels pursuant to a Master Plan as recommended by the Bryn Mawr Alliance.

2. East Side of Broadway – Height & Density – Acceptable to Increase to “Dash-5” with Expedited Planning

→ Upzone East Side from dash-3 to dash-5 with Alderwoman’s commitment to a community-inclusive planning process that addresses traffic, parking, and small business displacement.

3. West Side of Broadway – Height & Density – No Blanket Increase from Existing “Dash-2”

→ Retain current project-by-project upzoning process with Alder and community review.

→ Initiate targeted review to identify specific parcels for potential “pre-upzoning.”

→ Dash-3 is not a meaningful compromise.

4. Both Sides of Broadway – Retain Existing Permitted Business “Uses” and Develop Ward Guidelines to Streamline Case by Case “Use” Upzoning

→ The proposed B3 upzoning would allow 37 new “permitted” and “special use” business types – many of which are incongruent with a neighborhood business district -- without community input.

→ Retain current B1 use classifications, while creating Ward guidelines to simplify zoning changes for compatible uses.

5. Both Sides – Protect Heritage Buildings

→ Do not upzone the 45 heritage buildings identified by the Edgewater Historical Society.

Commence the process to create a City of Chicago Broadway Landmark District.

We call on the Alderwoman to pause the current ordinance to consider this very reasonable Roadmap for future Broadway development. ERB and the community stand ready to work with the Alderwoman to forge a solution that balances the desire to move quickly to create more affordable housing with the imperative to preserve what makes Edgewater exceptional.

For more information or to get involved, visit www.saveedgewater.com or contact us at savebway@gmail.com.