Plan to upzone Broadway promises housing, divides Edgewater - Chicago Tribune

By JAKE SHERIDAN | jsheridan@chicagotribune.com | Chicago Tribune

UPDATED: July 20, 2025 at 10:09 AM CDT

👉 Read the full article in the Chicago Tribune to explore the growing debate that’s dividing Edgewater (pdf).

AI Generated Abstract

A Chicago Tribune feature details the sharp divide over Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth’s plan to proactively upzone 2.6 miles of Broadway from Montrose to Devon, clearing the way for taller, denser development. Supporters — including Mayor Brandon Johnson, progressive aldermen, Loyola University, and the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce — frame the rezoning as a tool for affordability, vibrancy, and streamlined business growth. Critics, led by Edgewater Residents for Responsible Development, warn of business displacement, heritage loss, and higher property taxes, mobilizing legal challenges, flyers, and testimonial videos. Local business owners voice both fears and hopes: some fear losing long-held shops like Patio Beef, Vee-Vee’s African Restaurant, and Kim’s Hardware; others see potential for new customers. The plan, delayed over notice issues, is expected to return for an October City Council vote, where activists aim to force a two-thirds majority. The controversy pits competing visions of Broadway’s future — as a connector of density and transit or as a corridor needing preservation and incremental change.