Looking at development prior to (implementing the) new Zoning Ordinance in Chicago, and comparing it to some of the newer stuff, I have to say that Chicago may have saved itself. Or perhaps, it saved itself when it recognized the problem.
In the late 90's and even early 2000's Chicago was still building gated communities and strip malls. Perhaps some of that will always be inevitable, but luckily (and early on during the building boom), Chicago has cracked down on this kind of development and is promoting more urban, pedestrian-oriented, and mixed-use development in its hoods. I believe it has saved the city, because if Chicago would have allowed the business-as-usual suburbia to continue, surely these new developments would come to dominate the cityscape in years to come.
So here's the question. Do you think recognition of the problem and the new Zoning Ordinance is to thank for this change, or do you think the market would have dictated more urban style development anyhow (in the hoods, not downtown)?> |
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