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
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,…
MPC’s first 2010 roundtable challenges Chicagoans to think about what our streets are saying. What do Chicago streets say to you?-
- Streets do say things about our city," said Sam Schwartz, aka "Gridlock Sam," at Talking the Walk: The Importance of Pedestrian Friendly Public Spaces, MPC's first 2010 roundtable last week. "Chicago streets are saying some wonderful things, and they could say even more.”
That’s a fair…
Earth Week a reminder of the true meaning of sustainability-
- Sustainability advocates have a lot in common with holistic doctors. We understand that the “leg bone’s connected to the knee bone,” so to speak, and that diagnosing any problem requires evaluating the entire system. Much like our bodies, our communities are comprised of…
MPC helps CDOT design for complete streets-
- Last week, more than 40 Chicago and Illinois transportation planners and engineers gathered at MPC’s Conference Center for a two-day workshop to discuss ways to design streets that accommodate all forms of traffic, including pedestrians, bicycles, automobiles, and transit. The workshop,…
Model housing strategies in north and south suburbs share common theme: collaboration-
- Despite Illinois’ famous appetite for local control, with more units of local government than any other state, a new way of doing business – municipal collaboration – is proving effective and attracting both political and media attention. A group of communities in the south…
More related articles »
Multimedia
The Great Communities Collaborative: Adapting a New Model for Sustainable Place-Based Investment-
- Audio
- posted by Alex Gilbert
- July 29, 2010
- Listen to MPC's April 27, 2010, "Great Communities Collaborative" roundtable, featuring Shelley Poticha, Ngoan Le, Randy Blankenhorn, and Leigh Morris discussing how to utilize place-based and transit-oriented investment through a high level of cooperation and coordination among the public and…
Placemaking at the Polish Triangle-
- Publication
- (21 MB)
- July 7, 2010
- In 2009, MPC teamed up with WPB (the Special Service Area for Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods) to transform the Polish Triangle, located at the intersection of Division Street, Ashland Avenue, and Milwaukee Avenue, into a well-used public space. Through an online network group, online…
Vision Driving Development: Logan Square Corridor Development Initiative-
- Publication
- (2 MB)
- April 16, 2010
- In 2009, Chicago Ald. Rey Colón (35th Ward), in partnership with MPC, hosted the Logan Square Corridor Development Initiative (CDI). A series of three community meetings, the goal of the Logan Square CDI was to create a set of development priorities for Milwaukee Avenue and arm residents…
Pedestrian Safety Bill
HB 43/ SB 30: Creating safe streets and healthy communities-
- Publication
- (80 KB)
- February 2, 2010
- Chief Co-Sponsors: Ill. Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago)
Streets that are safe for pedestrians have benefits that ripple through neighborhoods and urban areas. Current Illinois legislation requires cars to yield, but not stop, for pedestrians in crosswalks,…
Placemaking Chicago-
- Video
- (2:05)
- September 4, 2009
- 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
