The Chicago City Council Zoning Committee made headlines last week with its approval of amendments to an ordinance from 2020 that paves the way for citywide construction of Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs), commonly known as granny flats, within single-family home basements or attics.
The committee voted 13-7 on July 15, although the amendments still require full city council approval, with a vote scheduled for September 25.
This decision aims to expand construction permissions beyond previously designated areas within the city. Following the committee’s decision, Alderman Marty Quinn (13th Ward) and other opponents of the ordinance successfully delayed an immediate full council vote.
Quinn voiced concerns that the introduction of ADUs could undermine the character of single-family neighborhoods, stating, “What ADUs would do is compromise the integrity of single-family dwellings in neighborhoods by turning raised ranches or bungalows into apartment buildings overnight with no aldermanic oversight or no community input.”
Emphasizing that many areas in the Southwest Side are predominantly single-family homes, he argued that the influx of families choosing to move to these neighborhoods for schooling and community stability would be threatened by ADUs.
The alderman highlighted the recent improvements in educational facilities, noting that five schools have been built or upgraded in the last 15 years to enhance educational opportunities for residents.
Quinn further criticized the initiative as an attack on the neighborhood’s character by Mayor Brandon Johnson, suggesting that the mayor was pursuing this policy for political reasons rather than community benefits.
In contrast, some residents, such as West Lawn homeowner Diane Ramirez, have expressed interest in the idea of having an ADU in their home. “Eventually, we might become empty-nesters and it would be nice to be able to rent out [an ADU] if need be, just to have that extra income,” she stated, indicating that financial considerations play a significant role in the decision.
UIC student Francis La Cascio also expressed support for ADUs during the Zoning Committee’s public comment session, emphasizing the financial relief they could provide amid rising rental prices. He noted, “It’s already been tried and true in a lot of other cities, [like] Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon, to lower the price of rent from inflated values. We need housing options for everyone.”
Quinn asserted he had sufficient support to halt the ordinance at the council meeting, leading to amendments from Mayor Johnson and Alderman Bennett Lawson (44th), the ordinance’s sponsor, aimed at placating concerns. One proposed change includes an
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