HOUSING
SOUTH LAKE FRONT GOLD COAST
The south lake front could be a catalyst for substantial quality
development if properly managed and developed. Air rights
development over the ICG tracks between 23rd street and 47th street could stimulate a new south Chicago Gold Coast. The ICG would provide quality mass transit. Lake Shore Drive would provide convenient road access.
The developments could be similar in nature to Illinois Center, which is built over the ICG tracks. Residents would be minutes from downtown on the "vertical elevator" provided by the ICG Railroad.
The communities would have driving access onto Lake Shore Drive. The views from the new south Gold Coast area would be among the best in the City. This type of development could revitalize the area and retain or attract a large number of loop office workers.
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT IN CITY COMMUTER RAILROAD STATIONS
The City should consider promoting with developers housing development at selected commuter train stations in the city. A number of under used properties along commuter railroads suggest a reuse for residential construction. The market would be suburban commuters on those railroads, who could be offered quality housing minutes from the loop on the same railroad that they presently utilize.
Another development potential is the development of a mega
structure with hotels, a major shopping center, offices, and
condominiums at O'Hare Airport. Chicago does not get its fair share of O'Hare generated development. Most current development takes place in nearby suburbs. The City could gain a fair share of the jobs and tax base by developing a mega structure connected to the O'Hare Terminals and extending back out over the parking areas and eventually onto air rights over roadways.
Huge numbers of individuals transit O'Hare each day. Some of these individuals would use a convenient major shopping center along the lines of Water Tower Place. A large amount of new to the region sales tax would be generated by individuals transferring flights.
ENERGY EFFICIENT HOUSING
Energy efficient housing has become increasingly necessary as energy costs increase. The drafty poorly insulated houses of the past have given way to super insulated housing that consume little or in a few cases no energy.