Where We Stand

The Metropolitan Planning Council is an avid supporter of the Chicago 2016 bid because of the unparalleled opportunity that comes with the Games: elevating Chicago’s world-class status, making us more competitive in an increasingly global economy, and investing in our neighborhoods and infrastructure. MPC is among a host of civic groups partnering with the city, neighborhoods, leaders, and Chicago 2016 on plans that will both capture the imagination of the world and contribute to a better region

In the spring of 2007, when Chicago was selected to represent the U.S. Olympic Committee, MPC outlined four recommendations for achieving a meaningful legacy: improve transportation options; coordinate pre-Games development with the revitalization of Chicago’s mid-South and West Side communities; maximize benefits for Chicago’s low and moderate income residents; and grow Chicago’s reputation as a green city. During the summer of 2008, in coordination with the 2016 Fund for Chicago Neighborhoods, MPC collected, analyzed and mapped data for communities that stand to be the most affected if Chicago were to host the 2016 Olympic Games. In releasing the data book, MPC encouraged community and other stakeholders to use the data to evaluate and prioritize community revitalization strategies and investments.

Read Olympics or not, communities ripe for redevelopment >>

Learn more about the 13 communities within the Olympics footprint >>

Project Progress Report

MPC has been expanding employer-assisted housing (EAH) initiatives throughout the region since 2000. In that time, more than 70 employers from many industries have signed on to launch EAH benefit programs for their employees. Collectively, Illinois employers have invested nearly $6 million to help more than 3,300 employees receive housing counseling services and more than 1,800 employees become homeowners.

Universities, medical centers and banks have been especially creative in implementing EAH programs. As place-based institutions dedicated to their surrounding communities, they see the value of having employees live nearby their workplaces. Municipalities are another type of employer with whom EAH is popular. Mayors and managers have found EAH to be a useful tool for building on a community’s unique strengths and addressing a range of needs – from increasing the supply of workforce homes in high cost areas to leveraging reinvestment opportunities in others.

Lockport, Ill., in Will County, is the latest municipality to adopt EAH. Its city council passed a resolution on Sept. 2 to implement an EAH program that not only will assist city employees, but provides incentives for area businesses to launch their own EAH programs.

Learn more about the City of Lockport’s groundbreaking EAH initiative >>

MPC Headlines

Reinventing public investment for a greener Chicago region
The final installment of the MPC-CAF summer discussion series, "Reinventing Public Investment," focused on opportunities for more environmentally and economically sustainable energy, drinking water, and wastewater policies.

MPC launches Steger Corridor Development Initiative
This fall, MPC and the Village of Steger in southern Cook County will ask residents to help design the type of development they want to happen in the Steger village center.

Support Our Work

Re-connection is generously sponsored by:
John and Kathleen Buck

Upcoming events

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What do you want to know about the new federal Sustainable Communities Partnership? Do you have your own ideas for how the Obama administration can support sensible local, regional and state development policies? What changes would you like to see at the federal level to support innovation in your own community? Don’t be shy! Visit our web site today.

In the News

MPC in the News
Take opportunity to make Illinois a true innovator
Crain’s Chicago Business, guest column by MPC President MarySue Barrett, 8/10/09

Pay the Freight event
GO TO 2040 blog, 8/5/09

Issue Focus: Foreclosure Recovery in the South Suburbs of Chicago: a True Story of Regional Collaboration
Gluespace.org, 8/5/09

Gaper's Block Slow Down
Gapers Block, 8/3/09

Residents help shape the future of Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square
Our Village News, 7/31/09

Youth Noise: B-Ball on the Block is Back!
Community Beat, 7/25/09

Money-strapped towns join forces to get cash for neighborhoods
Sun-Times News Group, 7/24/09

Nominate the best public places in Chicagoland
Gapers Block, 7/21/09

Have your say in future Milwaukee development
Peopling Places, 7/17/09

Help Plan the Future of Milwaukee Avenue!
Our Village News, 7/17/09

Why doesn't my house have a water meter?
Straight Dope, Chicago, 3/12/09

News of Interest
Western suburbs join forces to fight foreclosures
Chicago Tribune, 8/7/09

Southland towns join forces for stimulus money
SouthtownStar, 8/9/09

Southland towns join forces for stimulus money
WBBM Newsradio 780, 8/10/09

Railroad projects gain steam across Chicago area
Chicago Tribume, 8/5/09

Stimulus cash expanding DuPage’s construction season
Daily Herald, 8/5/09

Cities without cars
Planetizen, 8/1/09

High-speed rail and transit round-up
The Urbanophile, 7/31/09

LaHood To Congress: VMT-Reduction A 'Must' To Reduce Global Warming
Planetizen, 7/31/09

Chicago area suffers highest home foreclosure rate in Illinois
Crain’s Chicago Business, 7/31/09

What’s your water footprint?
The Infrastructurist, 7/23/09

Community Resource Guide

Chicago Public Radio’s “Facing the Mortgage Crisis” series explores the affect foreclosures have had on local families, businesses, and the region as a whole. In addition to multimedia news coverage, the station compiled this Community Resource Guide, a listing of housing workshops and events through 2009, and information on housing resources across the region.

Re-Connection past issues

February 2008 Vol 1 Issue 1

March 2008 Vol 1 Issue 2

April 2008 Vol 1 Issue 3

May 2008 Vol 1 Issue 4

June 2008 Vol 1 Issue 5

July 2008 Vol 1 Issue 6

August 2008 Vol 1 Issue 7

September 2008 Vol 1 Issue 8

October 2008 Vol 1 Issue 9

November 2008 Vol 1 Issue 10

December 2008 Vol Issue 11

February 2009 Vol 2 Issue 2

March 2009 Vol 2 Issue 3

April 2009 Vol 2 Issue 4

May 2009 Vol 2 Issue 5 

June 2009 Vol 2 Issue 6

July 2009 Vol 2 Issue 7

August 2009 Vol 2 Issue 8

MPC leadership

Board of Governors

Executive Advisors

Sign up for Talking Transit

With policy debates, legislative changes, and similar issues being tackled in other parts of the world, it is difficult to stay on top of current events in the transportation field. To help, MPC publishes Talking Transit, a useful online resource of important local, national and international news from various sources, which highlights significant events in transportation and land use. Sign up for Talking Transit.

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