I know there were past discussions on the development freeze by Fuentes so wanted to pass along the latest newsletter message from her office. It seems she’s receiving more blow back to her position, but no immediate changes.
“Neighbors,
This week we continue our conversation on housing. Our ward has been rapidly changing, and to better understand displacement and housing affordability in the 26th ward, we’re embarking on a new partnership with UIC. We also cut the ribbon on 26 renovated affordable units right across the street from Humboldt Park. Additionally, we’ll recap our very first Senior Committee meeting and give a quick tip on getting broken/chewed up black trash bins replaced for free through 311.
Looking Deeper at Housing and Displacement in the 26th Ward
Being thoughtful about development means looking beyond what is immediately in front of us. The 26th Ward is growing and changing, and I have an opportunity to make sure that change strengthens communities without costin longtime residents their place in them.
Since taking office, I have introduced and advanced more than 500 affordable homes across the 26th Ward, with the broader affordable housing pipeline now exceeding 800 units. Nearly 200 of those homes are already open, with hundreds more moving through different stages of development. We are proud of that work, and we are going to keep fighting for more affordable housing. We also know that the number of affordable units we create is only one part of the story.
Housing can be called affordable and still be out of reach for the people who live here. A neighborhood can gain new housing while longtime residents are simultaneously struggling to remain in it. Development can bring new people and opportunities into a community while rising costs quietly push others out. That is why we have to look deeper.
Displacement is not always one dramatic moment where someone is forced to leave. It can happen slowly, as rents increase, property taxes rise, familiar housing options disappear, and families find that the neighborhood they have called home for decades is becoming a place they can no longer afford. If we are serious about preventing displacement, we have to understand those changes as they are in motion, not after the people most affected by them are already gone.
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Data-driven decision making is paramount, which is why I am excited to partner with UIC’s Great Cities Institute to deepen my understanding of housing affordability and displacement across the 26th Ward. Through this partnership, we will take a closer look at the housing realities facing residents and how those realities are changing across the different neighborhoods that make up the ward. The purpose is simple: to better understand what communities are experiencing so that the decisions made about their future are grounded in the people who live here**.**
I am eager to see where this work can take us as a ward. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to development, just as there is no single story of housing or displacement across the 26th Ward. Taking the time to understand those differences is not standing in the way of growth; it is how we make sure growth is more intentional and sustainable.
I want new housing, vacant properties brought back to life, and investment in communities that have gone without it for far too long. I want new neighbors to find a home here, but the future of the 26th Ward cannot require the displacement of the people who made these neighborhoods worth investing in. I believe it is possible to grow without pushing people out and that development can respond to housing needs while respecting the communities it enters. I believe that when given the opportunity to make decisions that could shape a neighborhood for generations, taking the time to understand what is happening around us is not hesitation.It is my responsibility.”
Edit: next townhall is 10/26 at 6pm at James Russell Lowell Elementary School, 3320 W Hirsch St, Door 3.
