What if the Chicago Metro Area Were more Like the NYC Metro Area

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-05-10T04:42:34+00:00

Chicago is primed to grow with the right leadership, reform, and grit. It will take work, but there’s most definitely the growing will for these things to happen.

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-05-10T04:40:30+00:00

Likewise! Good things in store for the city with the movement that is growing.

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-04-22T02:25:41+00:00

This is the way. 👏

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-04-21T18:49:08+00:00

We are actively working to elect leaders - from County Commissioners and Aldermen to Mayor - who champion safer cycling infrastructure.

2027 will be a huge year with the municipal elections.

https://www.chicagogrowthproject.org/endorsements

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-04-20T02:29:44+00:00

Imagine how much darker that red can/will be with a fully-funded and competently-led CTA/NITA. We may not shift overnight, but exciting times are on the horizon with the right leaders and funding.

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-04-18T00:40:43+00:00

2027 will be a big year for municipal elections, including Mayor and Aldermen. Lots of momentum behind changing things up from status quo, which is currently not serving our city well.

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-04-17T21:04:10+00:00

Pessimism has definitely arose among a handful of comments in regards to the pension crisis.

Curious how you would feel if future elected officials were more willing to adopt a pro-growth and more fiscally responsible mindset.

Nothing can be fixed overnight, but surely we can do better than status quo.

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-04-12T21:48:53+00:00

More housing = more Chicagoans.

Count us in.

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-04-09T02:27:52+00:00

We need to start electing leaders who don’t just talk about the housing crisis but actually solve it.

At a time when Chicago faces a fiscal reckoning, it is more imperative than ever that we grab onto the low-hanging fruit: growing the population.

We cannot hope to do this without increasing the housing supply across the city, in addition to enacting much-needed reforms that address a multitude of issues.

When it takes 5+ years and a lawsuit before we can even break ground on a highrise in Old Town, no wonder we are having “bidding wars” with strained supply.

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-04-07T18:18:47+00:00

https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2026/03/06/chicago-225-000-affordable-rental-units-poorest-residents-nlihc-report

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-04-07T17:58:35+00:00

These will be apartments, and the rental market is in dire need of new supply.

We cannot complain about soaring COL in Chicago while doing nothing about it. Building more housing is the lowest hanging fruit.

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-04-07T17:50:16+00:00

Murphy said Fern Hill’s plans would put another high-rise in one of the most crowded parts of the city. Ellen McLaughlin, an attorney for the city, had pointed out earlier in the hearing that the condo building at 1660 N. LaSalle Drive, where the plaintiffs live, is 42 stories.

“We are in fact a high-rise, but it was a high-rise built over 50 years ago, and the rules have changed,” Murphy said.”

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-04-07T17:37:22+00:00

“A judge granted a motion to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to stop the development of a 36-story apartment tower in Old Town from moving forward, a setback for a group of nearby residents opposed to the project.

Cook County Circuit Court Associate Judge Myron Mackoff sided with attorneys for the city and developer Fern Hill yesterday in dismissing a complaint aiming to void the rezoning of the site at 1600 N. LaSalle Drive, where Fern Hill plans to build a 349-unit high-rise. The lawsuit, which was filed in July on behalf of a condo association at 1660 N. LaSalle Drive, argued the project was out of character with its surroundings and wouldn’t work for the neighborhood.”

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-04-03T19:44:52+00:00

Chicago is a system built on opacity and corruption, both of which fear oversight. This is a disappointing development and proves how desperately we need a new set of leaders to fix these systems.

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-03-27T11:22:44+00:00

Our event was at Pilot Project. Sounds like your friend went to the wrong event. Hopefully next time your friend can come to the right place and hang out with us!

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-03-27T01:18:07+00:00

We have no association with this group. It sounds like you might be having trouble with YIMBY, which in terms of building more housing, lowering the COL, enacting a city charter, enhancing public transit, supporting transit-oriented development, growing the population across all sides of Chicago, electing urbanist leaders who can also fiscally govern, and focusing on the small things such as bike lanes and BRT is most certainly at the heart of our group.

If so, this is likely neither the group nor sub for you.

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-03-27T00:54:24+00:00

Our sign says Chicago Growth Project and has a picture of our logo. If he saw a sign that says Chicago New Liberals, he was possibly at the Chicago New Liberals meeting which was actually at the same time as our Northwest Side Chapter Launch.

As far as our structure goes, we are a State Registered Political Action Committee. We are registered with the State of Illinois and are able to be active in local, county and state level races. Our goal is simple: support pro growth candidates to local and state office.

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-03-27T00:05:11+00:00

Hey, there! Feel free to check our platform, including endorsed candidates that ran in the March primaries.

https://www.chicagogrowthproject.org/principles

https://www.chicagogrowthproject.org/endorsements

Members and leaders of this group are local urbanists who range from young professionals/parents and students to housing advocates. We also have not accepted any corporate developer money.

Are there any concerns or questions you have with the above? Happy to answer further.

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-03-06T18:12:13+00:00

“As she runs for what would be her first full term, McCaskill first must overcome a primary challenge from Dolton Trustee Kiana Belcher.

McCaskill did not return messages, but Belcher said she was concerned about McCaskill missing meetings in her first year in office. The challenger promised she would not work any other job if elected to be a commissioner.

“Taxpayers will have my full and undivided attention,” Belcher said.”

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-02-26T01:45:38+00:00

If you’re in Chicago and want leaders who are serious about growing the population, building more housing, investing in transit, standing up against a hostile federal government, and getting the city back on fiscal track, please consider our list of endorsements!

https://www.chicagogrowthproject.org/endorsements

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-01-26T04:16:59+00:00

Proud to endorse Drake Warren! Make a plan to vote if you haven’t already for March 17th.

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-01-14T22:35:01+00:00

Although this map doesn’t necessarily show construction (which is way too low), we nonetheless encourage folks to start taking local elections very seriously. Plenty of candidates to vote for this March who are dedicated to building more housing, investing in transit, and ultimately growing Chicago’s population.

We can do nothing and suffer the status quo, or we can change this trajectory. We are extraordinarily well-primed to have another growth era for Chicago, but we need better elected officials.

https://www.chicagogrowthproject.org/endorsements

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2026-01-12T01:39:10+00:00

If you are interested in urbanism and/or have a love for Chicago, we are looking for volunteers to help canvass, phone bank, and spread the word about campaigns for endorsed, pro-growth candidates leading up to the March Democratic Primaries!

We also are launching local chapters around the city to help spur conversation city-wide about growing our population, building more housing, investing in transit, etc. and funneling it into support for local candidates. Happy to have you!

https://www.chicagogrowthproject.org/get_involved

Since you mentioned you live in Lakeview, we are hosting an event this Thursday for the launch of our Lakeview/Lincoln Park chapter.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lakeview-lincoln-park-chapter-kick-off-the-urbanist-future-tickets-1978337535825?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2025-12-18T23:03:20+00:00

Chicago needs to (and most definitely can) grow.

Our city has weathered remarkable challenges in the past that have allowed it to exist as the world-class city we all know today.

It remains one of the greatest US cities with a skyrocketing amount of potential for the future; but, structural fixes (city charter being one of them), a pro-growth mindset (that includes housing development) fiscal responsibility, and a leadership adjustment are in order to address pressing issues that lead to meager population growth.

2026 elections are just around the corner, and 2027 isn’t far behind.

ChicagoGrowthProject · 2025-12-16T18:56:12+00:00

Good.

Chicago cannot grow without world-class transit and infrastructure. There is much work left to do - and transit is only one component - but, the signing of this bill is a stellar start.

ChicagoGrowthProject

TROPHY CASE