Helping Communities Overcome Development Dilemmas
The Community Building Initiative (CBI) works with community partners throughout greater metropolitan Chicago to tackle development challenges that demand a creative vision for the future, consistent with MPC’s mission for a more equitable, sustainable, and competitive region. The initiative draws on MPC’s core strengths in planning and policy development to assist communities as they respond to local issues related to housing, transportation, environment, and sustainable economic development. These community success stories demonstrate the local and regional impact of MPC’s policy goals and inform our regional, state and federal advocacy.
Community Building Initiative fact sheet
Free Toolkit for Communities
MPC co-produced a series of workbooks designed to help communities overcome a variety of development challenges. Each workbook offers step-by-step guidance, as well as examples of best practices and policies from communities in metropolitan Chicago, Illinois, and nationwide.
Download your free copies today.
Housing 1-2-3 (2008) A guidebook for local housing development and policies
Retail 1-2-3 (2007) A guidebook for retail development
Planning 1-2-3 (2006) A guidebook for comprehensive planning
Sensible Tools for Healthy Communities (2004) A guidebook for sustainable development
MPC also offers workshops to bring these books to life in your community.
Learn more in the 1-2-3 Workbook Series fact sheet
Articles
CMAP announces technical assistance grantees-
- The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s (CMAP) comprehensive plan for northeastern Illinois, GO TO 2040, was approved in October 2010. Now the region’s collective challenge is how to implement it.
With a $4.25 million grant from the Sustainable Communities Initiative, CMAP will…
Southern suburbs awarded $2.4 million Sustainable Communities Challenge Grant-
- Today, the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA) was awarded a $2.4 million Sustainable Communities Challenge Grant from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to strengthen the Southland through a redevelopment strategy that builds off existing and planned rail…
It’s only 2010, but today you can GO TO 2040-
- Think for a moment about what our region could be in 2040. More transit choices? Doable. Safer neighborhoods? Possible. Cleaner water? Sure, if we work at it. Whatever our goals for tomorrow and the future, we need a plan to get there. Fortunately for northeastern Illinois, we now have one –…
Four outstanding places selected as Chicagoland's best in the "What Makes Your Place Great? Your Secret Corner of Chicagoland" contest-
- The votes are in and results tallied for the MPC and Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) “What Makes Your Place Great? Your Secret Corner of Chicagoland” photo and video contest. Two dozen public places from across the Chicagoland area – from gardens to arboretums, coffee shops…
Senate candidates go on the record on regional, state planning issues at MPC's 2010 Annual Luncheon-
- At MPC’s 2010 Annual Luncheon on Monday, June 21, Illinois’ U.S. Senate candidates Alexi Giannoulias (D), Mark Kirk (R), and LeAlan Jones (Green) had the opportunity to explain their platforms for supporting the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning's efforts in metropolitan Chicago,…
More related articles »
Multimedia
2012 Plan for Prosperity: Innovative Solutions for the New Normal-
- Publication
- (1 MB)
- Jan 12, 2012
- To read MPC's 2012 Plan for Prosperity, download the file. The following is MPC President MarySue Barrett's introductory letter.
Sometimes, things aren’t what they seem. For decades, the United States enjoyed what appeared to be boundless economic expansion. Consumers spent and borrowed…
Improving Health Through Planning-
- On Dec. 7, 2011, MPC hosted Improving Health Through Planning, a roundtable addressing the assumptions planners make about the health impacts of planning decisions. Read the full event recap.
Implementing GO TO 2040: A Plan for Chicagoland's Future; We Have a Plan: Let’s Do It-
- Listen to this April 27, 2011, roundtable, the third in the three-part series, “Implementing GO TO 2040: A Plan for Chicagoland’s Future,” co-sponsored by MPC and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. The series explored how – in an ever-expanding world economy…
- YNDC Youngstown Rising
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- Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams shared this video, which explains the work of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC), as part of his presentation at the final roundtable in MPC and Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning's series on implementing the GO TO 2040 plan.
Placemaking Chicago-
- A short video on Placemaking, produced in August 2008 by Metropolitan Planning Council and Tu Multimedia.
More related multimedia »
Links
- Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
- CMAP offers community assistance that provides tools, programs, and opportunities to help communities and organizations build capacity, improve quality of life, and participate in the regional planning process. More info »
- Center for Neighborhood Technology
- Learn more about one of CNT’s latest projects, a public planning project to draw community benefits from undervalued transit and freight assets in Cook County suburbs. The two communities that have signed agreements with CNT for an integrated planning process are Blue Island and Harvey. The final report, once adopted by the community, will be used to solicit proposals from developers that specifically respond to the community’s vision. More info »
- Homes for a Changing Region
- Homes for a Changing Region is a forward looking series of reports on the housing needs of the Chicago region which have been compiled by Chicago Metropolis 2020 in collaboration with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and with communities across the Chicago region. More info »
- Urban Land Institute, Chicago
- Since 1947 ULI has harnessed the technical expertise of its members to help communities solve difficult land use, development, and redevelopment challenges. Learn about ULI-Chicago’s TAP partnership with MPC, read reports from completed TAPs, and download an application form to bring a TAP to your community. More info »
- Placemaking Chicago
- Placemaking is a people-centered approach to developing and working toward a common vision for a public place. Learn about Placemaking Chicago, through which MPC supports the creation and care of public places across Chicagoland that bring people together and foster healthier, more social, and economically viable communities. More info »
More related links »
Recent Community Building Initiative Reports
2010: Placemaking at the Polish Triangle - Final report from MPC's collaboration with local residents and WPB (the Special Service Area for Wicker Park and Bucktown) to transform the Polish Triangle into a well-used public space.
2010: Vision Driving Development: Logan Square - The MPC Corridor Development Initiative report for the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago
2009: Discover "Asia on Argyle" - Final report from the Urban Land Institute-Chicago and MPC Technical Assistance Panel for the Argyle Street business district in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago.
2009: Robbins: Economic Development Vision and Strategy - Final report from the MPC Task Force for the Village of Robbins in support of the seven-community Calumet River Economic Development Vision and Strategy initiative.
2008: Vision Driving Development - The MPC Corridor Development Initiative report for the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago, done in partnership with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.
Collaborators
Partners
Center for Neighborhood Technology
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
Urban Land Institute, Chicago
Funders
Bank of America
The Chicago Community Trust
Grand Victoria Foundation
