X
City Plans and Visions
MPC co-sponsors exhibit and panel discussion on
zoning initiatives and planning in Chicago
MPC is collaborating with the Chicago Architecture Foundation on a two-month
exhibition that will explore the influences good design and sound planning could
have on Chicago's future. Three architecture firms have taken aspects of
the Central Area Plan for downtown Chicago, the zoning ordinance rewrite and
Chicago Metropolis 2020's regional plan and designed visionary concepts for how
they might be expressed.
Among events that complement the "Invisible City: Planning for
Chicago's Future" exhibition, is a panel on zoning and planning moderated by MPC
Vice President of External Affairs Peter Skosey. Other speakers will be Jacky
Grimshaw, vice president for policy, Center for Neighborhood Technology; Martin
Jaffe, J.D., professor, University of Illinois Chicago; and Barbara Lawrence,
executive director, New Jersey Future.
The panel is on Thursday, March 6 at 6 p.m., at the ArchiCenter Lecture Hall,
224 S. Michigan Ave. Refreshments will be served at 5:30 p.m. For
reservations, call 312.922.3432, ext. 909.
Contact: Peter
Skosey, Vice President of External Relations
312.863.6004
Network 21: Quality Schools for Stronger Communities holds town hall
meetings to encourage local education reform efforts
How do residents know that their property tax increases will really help
improve local schools? How can districts maintain control if the state
changes the way it pays for education? These were among the questions put
to legislators and community representatives in Chicago Heights on Feb. 10,
2003. The town hall meeting was the first of several initiated by Network
21 to bring together community, business, legislative and education leaders to
discuss the future of education in Illinois.
The meetings will
increase public involvement in Network 21's agenda to reform education funding
and ensure that every child in Illinois receives an adequate education.
Future meetings are being planned for Peoria and Elgin.
Contact: Bindu
Batchu, Network 21 Manager
312.863.6014
Second round of Regional Housing Initiative announced
Unused vouchers
provide incentives to affordable housing developers
The Regional Housing Initiative (RHI), an innovative idea for expanding
rental options for the region's lowest income families, is turning local housing
authorities' unused Housing Choice Vouchers into new apartments. RHI pools
vouchers from the Chicago, Cook County and Lake County housing authorities as
financing incentives to developers whose proposals apply sound planning
principals to create diverse communities in the sponsoring counties. MPC
is working with the Illinois Housing Development Authority to run the
program.
RHI hit the ground running in the last round in December, providing for 25
new units of affordable housing to be developed. Subsidies in this pilot
phase will fund a total of 328 apartments within mixed-income communities.
The application deadline for the next round is March 7, 2003.
Developers are encouraged to visit MPC's Web site for information and
an application.
Contact: Robin
Snyderman, Housing Director
312.863.6007
MPC seeks nominations for 2003 Burnham Award
The Metropolitan Planning Council is soliciting nominations for its 2003 Burnham
Award for Excellence in Planning, which honors projects or plans that
promote sound public policies and planning procedures. The award carries a
$5,000 cash prize.
All are encouraged to apply, including those who have applied in the past.
This award is largely targeted toward projects that are completed, or have
demonstrated promise over time. Last year, the Burnham Award honored Will
County's Land Resource Management Plan.
Nominations must be submitted by March 3, 2003. A committee of MPC board
members and other volunteers from around the six-county metropolitan region will
select the winner.
The Burnham Award will be presented at MPC's Annual Meeting Luncheon this
spring.
Contact: Peter
Skosey, Vice President of External
Affairs
312.863.6004