| | by Amy Talbot
3/11/10 
Are your pipes leaking? This is the week to check. March 15-21, 2010, is officially Fix a Leak Week, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Every year minor household leaks contribute to more than a trillion gallons of wasted water! That’s an average of 10,000 gallons a year per household on running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks -- enough to fill a backyard swimming pool. Many of these leaks can be easily fixed and can save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills. So what can you do? - Keep your home leak-free by repairing dripping faucets, toilet valves and showerheads. In most cases, fixture replacement parts don’t require a major investment.
- Retrofit your home with new WaterSense labeled fixtures and other high-efficiency appliances, which can eliminate most common leaks.
- Join others from around the country and pledge to fix your leaks.
- Check for other water savings tips at the Fix a Leak Week website (http://www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak).
- Test your water sense with a fun online game.
CMAP will help the DuPage Water Commission to staff two Fix a Leak Week events, featuring water conservation games like Water Quest and the Price is Right. By attending, you can learn how to save water and money! Prizes include leak detection tablets, shower timers, rain gauges, and more. March 13 at the Itasca Community Library, Community Room, 500 W. Irving Park Road, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. March 20 at the Westmont Water Department, 39 E. Burlington Avenue, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  permalink
   
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| | by Anne Holub
3/8/10 This fun photo from our Flickr pool highlights a few brave folks who participated in last weekend's Polar Plunge at North Avenue Beach on Lake Michigan. The annual event, now in its tenth year, raises money for Special Olympics Chicago. Even with the small warm-up we had last week, I still give these folks lots of credit for splashing into that freezing water (note the guys in full wetsuits making sure everyone stays safe)! This, and other great photos of our region, can be found in our Explore Northeastern Illinois Pool on Flickr. permalink |
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| | by Erin Aleman
3/4/10
Time and time again we've heard from residents and stakeholders that youth are key to the future of our region. Last year The Burnham Plan Centennial successfully worked with partners and youth to educate everyone on a host of planning issues. The Centennial's Kids Portal contains many wonderful resources for young people, from letters to Chicago's Mayor Daley on ideas for making the city better to the hands-on "Build it with Burnham" event in Kenosha.
With your help, CMAP wants to continue this legacy of youth outreach. At noon on Friday, March 12, 2010, CMAP will host the second of its bi-weekly collaborative brownbag sessions with our GO TO 2040 Partners. This session will focus on youth initiatives, beginning with a little background on how CMAP started our Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) program. We'd love to hear from partners who are working on youth programs and upcoming events to identify opportunities to collaborate on educating and inspiring students the GO TO 2040moves toward implementation. Whether that means providing expert speakers, supporting each other with event promotion, or something new, CMAP wants to hear from you. This brownbag session will be held at noon on Friday, March 12, 2010 at CMAP offices located in the Willis Tower, 233 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 800. To learn more about upcoming brownbags or to become a GO TO 2040 Partner, please visit www.goto2040.org/partnership.aspx. To sign up for a session, please contact Joey-Lin Silberhorn, 312-386-8814 or jsilberhorn@cmap.illinois.gov. permalink |
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| | by Anne Holub
2/25/10  | | Beautiful City. (Photo by John W. Sisson, Jr.) |
Thanks to a generous offer from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, we have two pairs of tickets to give away for the upcoming run of the play "Beautiful City" at the DCA Theatre. The play was written by George F. Walker, and will be directed by Rob Chambers and presented by Theatre Mir. From the DCA Theatre: "'This is the future' begins this darkly comic fable about urban developers, criminals, law enforcement, and even a witch, all fighting for the soul and vision of a city. Set in an urban landscape ripe for redevelopment, the parable blends off-kilter characters, fast-paced storytelling, and stinging social satire in a tale of greed, corruption, and civic responsibility. Theatre Mir's production marks the Chicago professional premiere of this work by George F. Walker, one of Canada’s most prolific and celebrated playwrights." The play opens on March 4 and runs every Thursday-Sunday through April 3, 2010. The performances will take place in the DCA Storefront Theatre at 77 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL. To win a pair of tickets to a "Beautiful City" performance of your choice, just email your answers to these five questions along with your name and daytime phone number to Anne Holub, at aholub@cmap.illinois.gov. We'll pick two winners at random from the pool of correct complete quizes. Good luck! QUIZ: 1. Who authored the 1909 Plan of Chicago?
2. What Asian city is known for its plan by the same author? 3. On March 4th, the day "Beautiful City" opens, Chicago will celebrate a birthday. How old will the city be? 4. In what year was the Sanitary and Ship Canal finished, reversing the direction of the Chicago River?
5. What GO TO 2040 document did the CMAP Board approve on January 13, 2010, as the last major interim product before the draft comprehensive regional plan is released for comment in June 2010?
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| | by Anne Holub
2/25/10 As a part of the new “Let’s Move” campaign, the White House has announced an ambitious plan: to eliminate all food deserts in the United States in just seven years. What is a food desert? Well, it’s any area with limited access to affordable and nutritious food. Access to nutritious food can be hindered by many factors including income, proximity to grocery stores, and access to transportation. Food deserts aren’t just located in urban areas but can also exist in rural communities as well, and more than 23 million Americans live in one. Chicago Magazine wrote about the issue last summer and estimated that the problem affects 600,000 Chicagoans (Time magazine also covered the issue last spring). CMAP’s Full Circle technical assistance program has examined the potential food deserts of Logan Square and East Humboldt Park. First Lady Michelle Obama spoke recently about the administration’s ambitious plan to eliminate such areas where nutritious food is difficult to obtain. It’s just one component of the “Let’s Move” campaign, which aims to improve nutrition, daily physical activity, and school lunches, as well as the problem with access to affordable, healthy food. permalink |
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| | Excerpts from Patrick T. Reardon’s Remarks for the January 21, 2010 CMAP Open House By Patrick T. Reardon
2/25/10
 If you look at a satellite view of this part of the globe, you can see the deep blue of Lake Michigan and the unbroken sweep of the landscape. It shows our region as a single fabric, closely woven, each thread linked to every other. It doesn’t show government boundaries. They are invisible because, in the natural world, they don’t exist. You probably live in one neighborhood or town and work in another and shop at a mall in a third and visit friends in a fourth. You don’t pay a lot of attention to invisible governmental boundaries as you go about your life. For you, it’s all one landscape, all one region. At this beginning of the 21st century, we need to recognize this fact…We are the people of a region. We share this section of the earth together. And we are at a turning point in our history. We have the opportunity today to begin to refashion our region. We can start to make it greener, healthier, economically stronger and more beautiful, and give ourselves and future generations richer lives. Now is the moment. In 2009, our region celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Plan of Chicago, called the Burnham Plan for its primary author Daniel Burnham. In more than 1,000 events over the course of the year, the people of the region gathered together to look at the amazing impact of that 164-page document -- and to think boldly about the future. The Burnham Plan reshaped Chicago and the suburbs and created the modern field of urban planning. Even more, it taught this region and the rest of the world a lesson: If you plan for the future, you can make it better. It's still true today: If we plan for the future, we can make it better. The Burnham Plan Centennial set the stage for the effort this year to create the first-ever comprehensive plan for the seven counties of northeastern Illinois. It’s called the GO TO 2040 plan and it’s being put together by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. This document will be the first to integrate planning and policies covering the use of land, the treatment of the environment, the movement of people and goods, the education of children, the fairness of decisions and the quality of life of the region’s eight million residents -- and the more than ten million expected to be living here three decades from now. But Illinois is a place where politics is a slash-throat, take-no-prisoners blood sport. And narrow-gauge, small-minded politics could doom this unprecedented effort to make our future better. We need to commit as a region -- as the people of a region -- to thinking broadly. We need to work together to improve the quality of our lives in the coming years. We need to support CMAP’s effort to create and implement the GO TO 2040 plan. For more than 30 years, Patrick T. Reardon was the urban affairs writer and a feature writer at the Chicago Tribune. He wrote articles exploring the interconnectedness of the region including topics like the urban underclass, public housing, the Chicago public schools, middle-class migration out of the city and the cultural and social aspects of urban sprawl. He has lectured on Chicago history for the Chicago History Museum and on journalism for Northwestern University, DePaul University and Roosevelt University. During 2009, He was the writer of the Burnham Blog at the Burnham Plan Centennial website. He is a scholar in residence at the Newberry Library and the author of three books.
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| | by Diana Torres
2/18/10 Get personally involved with the GO TO 2040 plan, the region’s long-range comprehensive planning process! CMAP is now seeking volunteers from the seven-county region to be interviewed for a new blog series titled “My 2040” to be conducted in person, by phone, or via email. We are looking for residents interested in participating in the GO TO 2040 blog by providing personal responses to questions relating to their communities and the regional plan. Volunteers will be asked to respond to a few questions to share thoughts, experiences and visions for his/her community and our region. This will be a chance for CMAP to profile some of our residents, leaders and stakeholders, describing their priorities for the region. You can read the Preferred Regional Scenario to learn more about these issues. Explore www.cmap.illinois.gov and www.goto2040.org for more information about the regional comprehensive planning process already underway. The “My 2040” project is a great opportunity to share personal visions for the region as we proceed with GO TO 2040. We expect to conduct up to 25 interviews and will spotlight one person a week starting late February and will continue through the release of the GO TO 2040 plan in October 2010. For more information, please contact Diana Torres, External Relations, at dtorres@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8774. permalink |
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| | by Diana Torres
2/18/10  | Carlos Nelson and Hubert Newkirk share their insights with FLIP students at the CMAP offices. |
CMAP’s Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) youth leadership development program recently hosted the “Expert Interview,” where students had an opportunity to learn more about specific issues throughout the our region. Several experts volunteered their time and responded to students’ questions in a small group environment. Since October 2009, the students have been exposed to in-depth information through classroom engagement, tours, activities and presentations—but they still have many questions as they finalize their group projects covering the following areas: Environment, Transportation, Economic Development, Human Services and Housing/Land Use. Each year, we coordinate a session to encourage the interaction between experts and the students to improve the students’ understanding of the issues at hand.
It also seems that the experts learned something from the FLIP students. Karen Yoder, a FLIP parent who volunteered to assist us at this session, spent time with several experts over lunch and shares some highlights from her conversations. Some of the comments she heard included: - “I’m delighted that this group of FLIP participants has so much enthusiasm and yearning of history.”
- “These bright students are gaining valuable interviewing skills and will be useful for future employment…from the looks of it, each and every student in this program have bright futures ahead of them.”
- “Everyone was well dressed. I know when I was in high school, I’d want to wear jeans every day and I’m so impressed with these participants who took the time to look professional.”
Each expert brought a specialized set of skills and topic area knowledge. We would like to thank the following volunteers who spent a Saturday with the FLIP program: Steve Coorlas and Dominick Peternel (Ghafari Associates); Sheri Cohen (Chicago Department of Public Health); Anne Evans (CNT Energy); David Galowich (Madison Realty Group); John Golden (CNA); Carlos Nelson and Hubert Newkirk (Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation); Larry Martinez (Oswego School District); Dawn Melchiorre (Voices for Illinois Children); Crispina Ojeda (Chicago Jobs Council); Dianne Palmer (Regional Transportation Authority/RTA); Heather Smith (Congress For New Urbanism); Shaan Trotter (Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center); David Wilson (Chicago Transit Authority/CTA); John Winzeler (Winzeler Gear). permalink |
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| | by Anne Holub
2/16/10 Our offices were closed yesterday in observance of the President's Day holiday, but here's a vibrant Flickr photo from our pool to brighten your week. This shot of vintage signs and neon on Milwaukee Avenue is a wonderful composition of light and texture, don't you think? It's by Flickr user "like, totally" from our Explore Northeastern Illinois Pool. permalink |
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| Beautiful photo! This one is by Heather Phillips, a local photographer.
Posted by: Anna B on 02/16/2010 |
| | by Lindsay Banks
2/11/10 Last Saturday, I decided to join some of the photographers that I have come to know in a virtual sense through our Explore Northeastern Illinois Flickr pool on an educational photo shoot at Millennium Park. The shoot was organized by ExploreChicago.org (the official tourism website of the City of Chicago), Millennium Park, and the Park Grill.
Dave Schalliol, the Managing Editor of Gapers Block known as metroblossom on Flickr, gave us some tips for getting great nighttime shots. I met photographers that came from as far away as Harvard in McHenry County. I would say that while my photos didn’t turn out great, I definitely learned some things that I will practice. The best part of the experience was meeting people from around Chcicagoland that share an interest in photography and capturing the beauty around us. We live in such a diverse, photogenic region with everything from world-famous buildings and architectural innovations to natural prairielands, with historic rail communities in between. Here is one of my images:  Maybe with enough practice (and a fisheye lens), I'll be able to take a photo like this: 
(Pavilion in Red by Flickr user TimLLowe)
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| beautiful pics
I love chicago
hugs from Cali, Colombia
Posted by: orlando on 02/11/2010 |
| | by Erin Aleman and Diana Torres
2/9/10  CMAP invites you to become a GO TO 2040 Partner and join in on future brownbag meetings to create a forum for dialogue and discussion as we continue inspiring and educating our residents to engage in the planning process. CMAP will be holding bi-weekly event planning sessions tackling various focus areas of GO TO 2040 beginning February 26th. Interested individuals and/or staff from organizations are welcome to attend. Please see our latest Partnership Schedule details on how to participate.
The GO TO 2040 Partnership program kicks off on Friday, February 26 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the CMAP Office (DuPage County Room). The discussionwill focus on the Regional Water Supply. This session will begin with a recap of the new Northeastern Illinois Water Supply/Demand Plan, which CMAP recently completed in conjunction with the Regional Water Supply Planning Group and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Looking to the year 2050, the plan addresses rapid population growth that, without improved conservation and resource management, could lead to water shortages in coming years. Following a brief presentation, participants will brainstorm about how organizations can get involved and help educate and inform people across the region about water – one of our region’s most precious resources.
Keep an eye here for more Brownbag events. Future focus areas include Youth (March 12), Parks and Open Space: Continuing the Green Legacy Projects (March 26), Food (April 23) and Library Programs and Events (May 7). Additional topics will be announced; please see our Partnership Schedule for meeting locations, times and descriptions. RSVP to one of our brownbag events to Joey-Lin Silberhorn at 312-386-8814 or jsilberhorn@cmap.illinois.gov. permalink |
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| |  | | Visitors enjoy the winning contest photos on display at Prairie Bread Kitchen. |
by Anne Holub
2/2/10Throughout the month of February, we'll have our dozen winning photos on display at Prairie Bread Kitchen in downtown Oak Park (more, here). This past weekend, we invited our winners and their friends and family out for an afternoon the day we opened the show. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon and it was great to meet so many of our photographers and their beeming family members. Thanks to everyone who came out! Check out our Flickr set for some snapshots from the show (where I took the opportunity to capture our photographers on the other side of the camera). I hope you can visit the bakery as well this month to enjoy the photos (and grab a coffee and some delicious bread!). It's conveniently located just north (literally, just a few steps) from the Oak Park Metra stop and the Harlem Green Line stop on the CTA. It's also close to I-290 if you travel via car, or bikable if you prefer to go by two wheels. Thanks again to the Prairie Bread Kitchen for hosting us! The show ends February 28, 2010. permalink |
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| | by Lindsay Banks
2/1/10 I chose this particular photo today because it has a bicycle and has a melancholy mood that matches mine. Last week, someone stole 4 bicycles from my basement, two of which were mine, one of which was my roommate's, and the other belonged to the woman who left the door to the alley unlocked. It is a terrible thing to have a bike stolen, so I made fliers, talked to bicycle shop owners and mechanics, posted a message with local bicycle couriers and did all that I could think of to recover them, knowing that recovery is unlikely in a city like Chicago. Someone on the Chainlink forum suggested that I investigate the Swap-o-rama over the weekend. So I went down to look for bikes, and found a guy selling a bike that looked very much like my roommate's. We checked her description with the details on the bike and everything fit except for the frame size. We did not check the serial number because we were trying to be inconspicuous, and we thought that that would alert them to the fact that we knew it was stolen. Big mistake. My roommate had given us an incorrect frame size. If it had been the same number, we would have called the police, but we figured that it was a similar looking, but different bike. We called and left a message with her about the bike, but had to leave to attend an event in Oak Park. She went back the next day and the bike had been sold. It was her bike. I can't believe we found her bike and let it slip through our fingers. Terrible feeling in my gut. Perhaps it will turn up again, but what is the likelihood of getting a second chance? Our Monday Flickr Photos are chosen from the Explore Northeastern Illinois photo pool. Submit your photos! permalink |
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| |  | | "Festival Park" in downtown Elgin, IL. Photo by Jessica Thompson. Winner "Community Vitality" category from our 2009 Photo Contest. |
by Erin Aleman
1/27/10
The Chicago Tribune featured a story today on how the Chicago neighborhoods of Wicker Park and Bucktown are supporting their local artists in order to reinvigorate the area's unique bohemian roots while addressing issues of crime and property values. Sprucing up your neighborhood might be as easy as employing some good urban design. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced a new funding program through The NEA Mayors' Institute on City Design 25th Anniversary Initiative. They will be giving small grants that support planning, design, and arts engagement. NPR did a story on the millions of stimulus dollars that have been allocated for the arts and whether or not people agree that funding for creativity will stimulate the economy. Does this support our Regional Vision? We think so. For guidelines on the NEA grant process click here. To see if you are in an eligible city in our region click here. permalink |
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by Anne Holub
1/15/10This week's Monday Flickr Photo comes from our Explore Northeastern Illinois Pool and Flickr user Renee Rendler-Kaplan. Her shot of these vibrant flowers in the Chicago Botanic Garden greenhouse in Glencoe, IL reminds me that the gray days of winter do have the opportunity for color. Add your favorite shots of our region to the pool to share your insights. permalink |
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| | The following is part of a series of blog contributions by Robert Munson, a member of the CMAP Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC). The views expressed are not necessarily those of the CAC or of CMAP itself. by Robert Munson, CAC member
1/20/10  | " Global Metropolises Walk Their Talk " introduces how these three metropolises apply the above principles better than does our region. |  | " Lessons from Berlin " reminds us that a central station is a practical symbol stressing the importance of integrating transit systems. |  | " Paris: How Collaboration Works " shows how regional government is the key to city and suburbs working together better. |  | " London Lesson " tells us regional authority can ebb and flow as required by the situation. |
The year 2010 will culminate our most intense decade of regional planning ever. Our leaders started this process to make Chicago a global center within a world-class metropolis. Before we agree to a plan for 2040, let’s measure our region against three metropolises: Berlin, Paris and London.
Our competition has a strategic edge: they move more people around more efficiently each day than do we. Their micro-micro moves cumulatively build the net worth of every business and household and their ability to pay for public services, or need less services.
The competition’s transit investment produces more wealth than ours because they apply three principles better.
First, their communities are more compact; thus encouraging options more cost-effective than autos.
Second, their transit systems are integrated; making usage easier, faster, cheaper.
Third, each region manages its systems better because there is clear authority.
Read this series of four articles on how the competition is beating our metropolis. Each photo symbolizes a key point of each article. Click and take a quick trip to each. permalink |
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by Anne Holub
1/15/10 In celebration of our 2009 Images of Northeastern Illinois Photo Contest, CMAP will hold a public show at Prairie Bread Kitchen located at 103 N. Marion St., Oak Park, IL. The show will feature our 6 winners and 6 runners-up. CMAP staff and winning photographers will be in attendance for a launch on January 30, 2010 from 2-3pm. The photos will be on display at Prairie Bread Kitchen through the month of February. We hope you can stop by and enjoy them. Prarie Bread Kitchen is conveniently located just north of the CTA Green Line Harlem/Lake stop, the Metra Oak Park stop on the Union Pacific/West Line, is easily accessed via bike or on foot, or if you drive, lies just north of the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) and there is metered street and lot parking nearby. Many thanks to Prairie Bread Kitchen for the opportunity to share these photos with the public.  While supplies last, you can also order a free2010 Calendar created by CMAP featuring our 12 winning photos (with a bonus Staff Pick photo). Just fill out this order form. Update: Our supply of calendars has now run out. We are filling the orders we have received so far and will be shipping those out shortly. Thanks to everyone who ordered!
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| |  by Diana Torres
1/13/10
CMAP staff participated in the 7th Annual DuPage Environmental Summit on Thursday, January 7 at Benedictine University (Lisle, IL). This year’s topic was preserving Open Space and Green Infrastructure in the Built Environment and CMAP was proud to share the Open Lands Strategy Paper that was recently completed. This white paper outlines several general strategies that will be proposed in GO TO 2040 plan to be released later this year. To learn more about this and other environmental research topics we have explored, please visit our Strategy Papers homepage.
Aimed at attracting community and business leaders, elected officials, planners, and professionals in the environmental field, this year’s summit covered issue areas affecting the Chicago metropolitan collar counties, an area whose voters "have approved 30 open space ballot measures totaling $1.3 billion dollars…[to help] protect about 35,000 acres of land” (DuPage Environmental Summit brochure). In an effort to promote open space and promote a green future, the Summit brought together experts and professionals to discuss various facets of the topic. Speakers included Robert J. Schillerstrom (DuPage County Board), Jeff Redick (DuPage County Board Environmental Committee), D. “Dewey” Pierotti (Forest Preserve District of DuPage County President), Brent Manning (Forest Preserve District of DuPage County), Jeff Mengler (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service/Chicago Wilderness), Ders Anderson (Openlands), Dan Lobbes (The Conservation Foundation), Jim Kleinwachter (The Conservation Foundation) and Dr. Jack Sheaffer (DuPage Environmental Commission).
Sponsors included the DuPage Environmental Commission, The Conservation Foundation, The DuPage Community Foundation, the DuPage County Board/Environmental Committee, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Benedictine University, SCARCE and the University of Illinois Extension. permalink |
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| | by Anne Holub
1/5/10 We're very happy to announce the winners of our 2009 Images of Northeastern Illinois Photo Contest! We received over 400 entries of wonderful photographs from around the region. After a lot of deliberation, our judges announced that the following photos best represented what the photographer valued in their region in the following categories: Transportation: Winner, "Snake," River North, Chicago; by John M. Kelly
Runner-Up, "Wheels," 1600 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago; by Jason Martini Diversity: Winner, "Old and New," downtown Chicago; by Janet L. Stevenson-Kruzel
Runner-Up, "Del Encanto," Aurora Puerto Rican Festival, Downer St., Aurora; by Gilbert Feliciano Community Vitality: Winner, "Festival Park," downtown Elgin; by Jessica Thompson
Runner-Up, "Wicker Park Fest," 1550 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago; by Jason Martini Architecture: Winner, "Contrasts," Chicago loop; by Ronald P. Ziolkowski Jr.
Runner-Up, "Gold Coast Graystones," Gold Coast, Chicago; by Monika Thorpe Environment: Winner, "Camouflaged Deer," Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve, Long Grove; by Kristy Morimoto
Runner-Up, "Echinacea," Lurie Garden, Millennium Park, Chicago; by Laurie Chipps Overall Winner: "Insubstantiality," Chicago from Eastbound I-90; by Gilbert Feliciano
Runner-Up:"The Lone Passenger," Downers Grove; by Michael Brown You can see these photos in the slideshow below or online. We are also about to print a 2010 calendar featuring each of our 12 winning pictures. Details on how you can obtain your free copy coming soon. We're also planning a public show of the winning photos at a time and location TBA. Many thanks to all of our judges for generously donating their time and expertise to this contest. Also, thanks to our contest sponsors for their generous donation of prizes including: permalink |
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| I hope that's the John Kelly I know.
Posted by: Administrator on 01/04/2010 |
| |  by Erin Aleman
12/30/09
Forgot to turn off the water while you brushed your teeth again this year? Here’s a resolution for 2010 that comes with a little motivation. Resolve to make your home little greener with a federal tax credit for consumer energy efficiency. 2010 will be the last year to buy that (qualified) Energy Star rated appliance you always wanted and the government will give you a 30% tax credit. Biomass stove, new insulation, water heaters, geothermal heat pumps – the list goes on. They even have a handy FAQ page to answer all your “cleaner” and “greener” burning questions. Happy New Year! permalink |
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| |  by Anne Holub
12/28/09 For our last Monday Flickr Photo of 2009, I chose a lovely winter scene in Millennium Park's Lurie Garden by Flickr user phototravel1 which was submitted to our pool. I just love this shot for its vision of a winter garden. I've seen similar shots in the spring, summer, and fall, but it takes an intrepid photographer to bundle up and head out into Chicago winters to get great shots. Don't forget to add your photos to our Explore Northeastern Illinois Flickr Pool. You could see your photos here in 2010! permalink |
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| |  | | FLIP students explore the Bronzeville Farmers Market. |
by Lynda Lopez, FLIP 2009 Alum
12/22/09
In September 2008, I joined the inaugural group of students in the Future Leaders in Planning Program (FLIP) with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. The program opened my eyes to the different neighborhoods in Chicago and what it takes to combat issues such as poverty, the environment, and gentrification. FLIP has given me so much that I decided to become a volunteer for the new year of the FLIP program.
On October 24, 2009, FLIP had its neighborhood field trips. Different groups of students travel to different neighborhoods in Chicago to learn about local organizations that fit under their cluster of housing, human services, environment, transportation, or economic development. I was lucky enough to be placed in the environment group for the day.
Our first stop of the day was the Chicago Center for Green Technology (CCGT), accessible off the Kedzie stop on the Green Line. Once inside, we received a tour of the building, which included a look at the roof’s greenhouse and the University of Illinois house. The U of I house was definitely the most fascinating aspect of the building. It is located on the grounds of the CCGT and it was built two years ago by students at the university using recycled materials and reusable materials.
After the tour, we hopped right back on the green line and ventured to the Garfield Park Conservatory. We wandered around, admiring the different flowers and plants that thrive there. It made me feel more in touch with the beauty that Chicago holds, but that people are often not often aware of. It was soon time to head back to the Willis Tower and reconvene with all the groups to discuss our trips.
Every group had something unique to share. The economic development group discussed their trip to Bronzeville and the gentrification that is occurring there. The Human Services group talked about “green jobs” and how they can move America into a better age of economic opportunity. Every group discussed something different, but the group that resonated most with me was the transportation group. The students visited the CTA Control Room and they were able to acquire a plethora of information regarding possible changes to the CTA such as the extensions of the “L” train. There are proposals to extend the Orange Line to Ford City, the Red Line to 103rd Street, and the Yellow Line to Old Orchard. There are 1.7 million people in Chicago who are CTA users and these changes will potentially affect their lives. I felt captivated by how much control the CTA has on our lives.
Moreover, I am sure a lot of students would prefer to spend their Saturdays sleeping in and watching cartoons. Learning about your life and what factors affect is even more exciting than Saturday morning siestas, though. I can now maneuver myself easily around Chicago thanks to FLIP.
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by Anne Holub
12/14/09
Last week, the New York Times published an article on water contamination in the U.S. The article, based on federal data, explained that for hundreds of water systems across the country, violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act resulted in little or no disciplinary action. According to the Times, when violations were voluntarily disclosed by some water systems, there was no follow-up contact by the E.P.A. This breakdown of action by the stewards of the nation’s drinking water, whether that be the federal agencies or those in charge of local water systems, is troubling at a time when more and more illnesses are being linked to long-term exposure to water-borne contaminants like arsenic and radioactive elements. Here in northeastern Illinois, well water in Crestwood was revealed to have been contaminated by toxic chemicals for nearly 20 years. But contamination isn’t the only potential threat to drinking water, which residents of northeastern Illinois often take for granted in perceiving Lake Michigan as a limitless resource. Tim Loftus, CMAP project director for northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning, remarks that we must raise awareness of the "relatively finite nature of our water resources," including ground and lake water. "Put another way, there is potential for demand to outstrip supplies in the future despite the inherent renewability of the resource," he said. "Waste and 'overharvesting' are related and both threaten our ability to maintain balance between demand and supplies as we look out towards midcentury. Good planning followed by plan implementation has strong potential to avoid such a future." Effective planning, like the Regional Water Supply Study that CMAP is leading, is vital for keeping our water resources clean and available well into the future. The GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan that CMAP is developing will emphasize the need to protect the region’s resources well into the future. Read a draft version of the preferred Regional Scenario and give us your thoughts. You can also view our Best Management Presentations for Water Supply Management on our Strategy Papers page. In winter, our thoughts might not immediately turn to bodies of flowing water, but instead to snowflakes falling from above. But even the arrival of near-zero temperatures brings special challenges for the region’s water supply. Loftus remarks, "This is the time of year when we dump tons of road salts throughout the region, some of which infiltrates down and into the shallow aquifer system. While levels are currently below the secondary drinking water standard, they will eventually reach a problematic level and become very expensive to remedy." He poses the question: "How can we avoid that fate and keep our highways ice and snow free?" To be published early in 2010, the Regional Water Supply Study will address this issue and many others. permalink |
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| |  | | Photo "Icicles in Lincoln Park" by Flickr user Jon Vitale from our pool. |
by Shana Alford
12/10/09 When I think of winter I often think of ice skating, the holidays, hats and gloves, hot chocolate, and many more fun and cheery things. However, I also can’t help to think about the necessity of heat during the very cold days and nights especially. The State of Illinois, like some other states, has a weatherization assistance program aimed to help people who need it the most. Weatherization simply means to insulate or protect a home or building from moderate to more extreme weather conditions such as sunlight, rain, wind, snow, etc. We in the northeastern region of the state can attest to extreme cold! Another very appealing aspect of weatherization is the opportunity to reduce energy consumption, which will decrease costs. The weatherization of homes for families can result in savings of 32 percent on heating bills, according to the Department of Energy. Recently the federal government released $5 billion nationally toward weatherization assistance programs as part of the American Recovery Reinvestment Act stimulus funding. The State of Illinois received $242.5 million of ARRA funding which is anticipated to help weatherize approximately 27,000 homes. The funding will be distributed throughout the region to 35 local agencies. This is a success! Want to learn more about weatherization and its benefits? Click here. permalink |
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| | by CMAP Communications
12/9/09  You can now read a CMAP news release based on feedback we received from over 20,000 residents of northeastern Illinois from May to September 2009 during the “Invent the Future” phase of public input for GO T0 2040.
Residents want more transit options and compact development based on input gathered via interactive web tools, workshops, kiosks and booths at community festivals. There was also strong support for increased investments in transit and expanded programs for natural resource conservation. View this fact sheet to see charts summarizing input we received and how the draft preferred Regional Scenario addresses the priorities expressed by the public.
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| | The following is part of a series of blog contributions by Robert Munson, a member of the CMAP Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC). The views expressed are not necessarily those of the CAC or of CMAP itself. by Robert Munson, CAC member
12/3/09  | | This photo depicts the collaborative way Portland's regional government (Metro) works with local governments to create transit-oriented developments (in this case, Beaverton.) With state authorities for transportation and land use, Metro could have been heavy-handed and not given transit money to Beaverton in the early 1990s unless it first agreed to more compact development. But the town was a traditional suburb back then. So instead, Metro had the suburban rail built and the land around the Central station was undeveloped for over a decade. When it was ready, Beaverton permitted this mixed-use building recently completed. Served by five light rail stations, Beaverton today has 86,000 inhabitants, has developed a thriving suburban commerce and is Oregon's sixth largest city. With a good law, everyone wins. |
This lesson I got from a recent visit to the Portland, Oregon metropolis, a place many regard as America’s planning Mecca. This lesson has direct relevance to our emerging GO TO 2040 Plan. Here is why.The Portland region had a very good fight over its Urban Growth Boundary, a state law that allows their metropolitan government to control growth to preserve open space and farmland. Why was this a good fight? Well, the three parties (the region, suburban leaders, and homebuilders) all changed each others’ minds and, instead of fighting, developed a new deal for growth. Here is how this new deal emerged over 15 years of applying Oregon’s land use law: Homebuilders worried the law would stop greenfield subdivisions. It didn’t. The law did not restrict Portland’s suburbs from sprawling single-family homes like their Chicagoland counterparts. But, two factors helped homebuilders change their minds. First, townhomes and multi-family buildings became more profitable per unit because land prices and impact fees rose so fast, as they did here by mid-decade. Second, some progressive homebuilders liked the Portland region more because its unique law actually helped reduce land costs per unit. The second change came from suburban leaders. They feared the region would heavy-handedly change the unique character of each community. Yet because it had the weight of law, the regional government had leverage to help suburbs understand how compact communities lowered costs and increased revenue. Plus, communities today know how to make townhomes and transit-oriented developments; a likely requirement for federal transit dollars. And finally, regional government was girded to do battle using state law. Instead, they discovered gentle persuasion was productive. In this good fight, everyone won because everyone changed their minds. Today, it seems like the Portland area has a new consensus for development suited to the new century. In this regard, they are ahead of us. Relevance to Chicagoland? Adapting this lesson to our region requires two adjustments. First, the Portland area has the nation’s only regional government, something that is not on the table in Illinois. Second, before we can enjoy the benefits of a good fight, we need to admit how our bad fights divided our region; chiefly, the third airport and the split of RTA sales revenue. Stabilizing our divide has been achieved by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and the more formal bonding started by CMAP. What would be a good fight for us? How could it be incorporated into the GO TO 2040 Plan so that, also over 15 years, everyone changes and we have a new deal on growth? Consider why we need this re-thinking. Our real estate depression will continue until the industry’s financial system is rebuilt. This may take five years. The depression causes a precipitous drop in impact fees. Weak property tax revenue follows. This means city managers will face several years of declining revenues and, then, only slow growth; perhaps taking a decade to get back to 2007 levels. The GO TO 2040 Plan will provide a great service to developers and municipal budgets if it proposes win-win model ordinances for compact communities that reduce developer land costs per unit and reduce city infrastructure outlays and operations. Plus, we can compete better for federal transit dollars. And once parties see the benefits, perhaps the GO TO 2040 Plan will prompt some to conclude that greater Chicagoland should have the same leverage the Portland area enjoys. To progress to the status of a world-class region, Chicagoland needs a good fight that produces a New Deal for growth; one in which every interest gets ready for the 21st Century and everyone wins. permalink |
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| | by Anne Holub
11/20/09 This week I was lucky enough to hear Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, speak at a small speakers’ series hosted by the MacArthur Foundation at the Adler Planetarium. He spoke briefly, mainly covering a broad group of topics relating to his work and thoughts on online innovations, but it was most interesting to hear how Newmark, who created such a ubiquitous online resource as Craigslist, spends his time. Newmark spoke about some of his favorite projects as of late, including microfinancing outlets like Kiva.org where small loans are doled out to deserving entrepreneurs, DonorsChoose.org which connects classrooms needing donations for supplies or projects with donors, and AllForGood.org which lets users find volunteer opportunities in their community. He’s also a big fan of sites such as SeeClickFix.com and services like 3-1-1 (which operates in Chicago) where community members can communicate with local governments to enact change. He spoke very highly of federal government programs like the TSA’s “Idea Factory” that encourages collaboration and the ongoing “Innovation Competition” offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (for which Newmark will help select winners). Newmark spends time nearly every day answering customer service emails for Craigslist, whether he’s on the road spending time in a coffee shop, or at home in San Francisco. He even blogged about a personal philosophy regarding customer service on his blog this week. Newmark shared this philosophy on Tuesday, as he believes “customer service done in good faith is public service” and “customer service anchors you to reality”. You can read more about Newmark on his blog, or on his Wikipedia entry (he’s a member of the advisory board for the Wikimedia Foundation) and keep up with his travels and thoughts. I would hope that the GO TO 2040 campaign, including our efforts to connect with residents of northeastern Illinois would please Newmark. Remember, we’re always eager for your feedback. Check out and comment on our Strategy Papers, imagine the future in our Community Design Workshops, and read our latest Draft Preferred Regional Scenario (updated 11/09) and let us know what you think. permalink |
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| Kiva is an especially cool site in that they really do let you enjoy the act of giving. I know it became huge when Oprah mentioned it a while ago, I hope it has been able to keep that same size audience since then!
Posted by: Administrator on 11/20/2009 |
| | by Justine Reisinger
11/18/09
The future of northeastern Illinois depends on regional decisions and actions, whether focused on the environment, transportation, land use, workforce development, or other quality-of-life factors. As CMAP executive director Randy Blankenhorn likes to say, “Decisions we made 20, 30 years ago are why the region is the way it is today.”
The GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan is moving toward completion in October 2010 (the draft for the preferred Regional Scenario is now online). CMAP is formulating strategic decisions and actions based on extensive research by the agency and its partners and on input by residents and stakeholder groups. The GO TO 2040 Strategy Papers focus on a wide range of topic areas, from climate change to arts and culture, to help understand current conditions in the region and possible strategies to solve existing and anticipated problems. This past summer’s Invent the Future public input was the most extensive phase of CMAP’s on-going efforts to engage residents in imagining how the region can meet the challenges of adding a projected 2.8 million new residents by 2040.
In this regard, the Workforce Development strategy paper is an important new GO TO 2040 publication. It has prompted regional leaders to begin the process of engaging a broader group of stakeholders to explore recommendations in the report. The Chicago Jobs Council (CJC), in partnership with the Chicago Community Trust (CCT) and CMAP, hosted a daylong meeting on November 9, 2009 to discuss the recommendations for workforce development generated by the CJC and an advisory council, which included 19 workforce development stakeholders. At the meeting, 85 stakeholders in education and workforce and economic development evaluated opportunities for regional collaboration across information systems (which will include CMAP’s Regional Indicators project), within targeted sectors, and in career training pathways. Discussions highlighted stimulus-funded opportunities to train workers and create jobs.
 “It was a great opportunity to hear reactions to the recommendations developed earlier this year and explore how to make them happen as new economic and workforce development initiatives are emerging in the region,” said CJC associate director Carrie Thomas.
Attendees came from a range of northeastern Illinois organizations, including workforce boards, community colleges, and non-profit job training and placement organizations. The GO TO 2040 planning process, combined with the recent influx of federal stimulus funding, is a catalyst for renewed regional workforce development collaboration. This meeting envisioned collaboration that also included education leaders and economic developers, in addition to those in workforce development.
This meeting was part of a long-term process to implement regional workforce development strategies. The recommendations of the report (which was commissioned as input to the GO TO 2040 plan by the CCT) require collaboration and coordination between varieties of stakeholders to create: - Coordinated workforce, education, and economic development planning and information systems across the region.
- An integrated and adaptive career and education pathway system driven by skill needs of employers and accessible to all workers in the region.
A recent update of the Skills2Compete – Illinois report “Illinois Forgotten Middle Skill Jobs” reveals that, despite the current unemployment situation, demand for skilled workers remains strong. In the conclusion of his presentation at the regional meeting, Chicago Federal Reserve Bank economist Rick Mattoon pointed out that structural unemployment – in which there’s a mismatch between the skilled workers looking for jobs and the available vacancies -- puts a premium on retraining and matching of skilled workers to jobs. This means that the role of the workforce development system is critical to helping the region’s workers and businesses emerge from the recession.
Additional opportunities for participation in this process are forthcoming, and engaging additional stakeholders is an important first priority for CMAP and its partners. See the CJC website for meeting materials, including presentations by Mattoon and Thomas. If you are interested in learning more or becoming involved in this process, please contact Annie Byrne at abyrne@cmap.illinois.gov.
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The following is part of a series of blog contributions by Robert Munson, a member of the CMAP Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC). The views expressed are not necessarily those of the CAC or of CMAP itself.
by Robert Munson, CAC member
11/12/09
Many think Vancouver is the future of transit. If so, then those who wish to elevate Chicagoland’s transit need not fear the future. For in Vancouver, the future is nearly now. And while Chicagoland’s transit “bones” may be at least 60 years old, Vancouver’s young structure offers us important lessons.
Probably more than any North American city, Vancouver shows how investing in transit leads to prosperous, great communities. Repeatedly, Vancouver works this formula well: build a rail line, sprout compact communities, diversify land uses, attract talent, and watch property values grow.
Mid-October was my third visit to Vancouver; each was during a telling time.
My first visit was in 1993, several years after opening the system’s first line. It was already a success, a model in Transit Oriented Development proving that compact communities with mixed uses create transit options that work economically.
In 2003, I visited after the second line opened, and it showed the same promise.
Just before my October 2009 visit, the third line opened. It is attracting most of the new development that is not connected to the 2010 Olympics. Vancouver’s transit and land use combinations are so effective that they create growth despite today’s downturn.
 | This poster is from inside a car on Vancouver's new line connecting downtown to the Olympic Village (fourth stop) with the airport and some compact south suburban communities. A similarity of Illinois to British Columbia is both are broke; so the federal government had to finance the Canada Line. Beyond that, we have much to learn. Canada brought in a private partner; making this a true public-private partnership. Illinois lacks laws to facilitate this. Also, this poster welcomes riders and tells them staff is there to serve them. The CTA would do well to take note.
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Several factors contribute to Vancouver’s transit success. Three of them can help Chicagoland revitalize its transit, which is perhaps the vital ingredient still required to make us into a world-class region again. These three factors also are strategic considerations in the GO TO 2040 Plan’s next phase, Selecting a Preferred Scenario.
First: Understand what customers want. Part of Vancouver’s success comes from its agency’s clear understanding of what riders want. Among other market research tools, Translink Listens is the agency’s on-going on-line advisory panel. Visit it at www.translinklistens.ca, and you will start to understand how Vancouver gets the middle class to leave their cars and use transit.
While the CTA and RTA listen to the public, riders have little more than a restricted comment period that agencies must execute to get tax dollars for capital improvements. This is a different goal than understanding what customers want so they voluntarily open their wallets, get on the system, and improve its cash flow.
Second: Meet deadlines. Vancouver’s two greatest surges were induced by the World Expo 1986 that produced the first line (called the “Expo Line”), and the 2010 Winter Olympics that produced the third (called the “Canada Line”). Both were built in less than five years. In between, the second line (named the Millennium) took 18 years to build and is much smaller.
Chicago’s loss of the Olympic bid has prompted regional leaders to look for another deadline. The Olympic bid included key proposals to improve how we will get around our metropolis in the 21st Century. Deadlines must be built into the GO TO 2040 Plan. A Preferred Scenario must shape them.
Third: Motivate with a Big Concept. “Vancouverism” captures this city’s pre-eminent livability: beautiful public spaces, compactness and great transit. This “school” of planning is being updated for the 21st Century with sustainability as its goal.
The Chicago “school” that built hub and spoke train systems 100 years ago also needs updating for this Sustainable Century. The GO TO 2040 Preferred Scenario should build upon our unique contribution to metropolitan planning.
So what are Vancouver’s lessons to updating Chicago’s transit? Consider these three: market research, deadlines, and a big, clear idea.
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| | The following is part of a series of blog contributions by Robert Munson, a member of the CMAP Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC). The views expressed are not necessarily those of the CAC or of CMAP itself.
by Robert Munson
11/4/09 | This was one of six posters promoting the 2009
summer workshops when over 80% of citizens said
they want investment in transportation alternatives. |
Answer: Those communities who start today to adapt their Land Use policies so they can grow, balance their books and compete in the 21st Century economy.
The last nine months have seen the most dramatic changes in the metropolitan area that I have seen since I was born here in 1953. If you are making a list of how our communities are changing recently, consider these three. - A deep recession is causing a series of fiscal crises for Illinois, our counties and cities; resulting in service cuts so deep that it could take until 2016 to return to 2008 levels.
- Federal policy is evolving to fund infrastructure for those non-auto transportation options (i.e. transit, bikes, walking) that are easier and -- when coupled with compact communities -- make people healthier.
- CMAP organized 60+ workshops to ask citizens to shape their future. The results startled most everyone (especially me) with over 80% saying they want greater investments in transit and 60% wanting more compact communities.
- The above three changes create a growing chasm between what citizens expect and what local governments deliver. This chasm can be bridged as the GO TO 2040campaign enters its next phase to describe the region’s Preferred Scenario. To prompt this discussion, I offer this 5 Part series. Here is its Synopsis.
Part 1, The Promise Of Regional Planning [PDF], discusses how participating in GO TO 2040 is essential to grow out of what has become recurring fiscal stress.
The middle three Parts describe how land use policies of three counties reflect the three economies of the last 100 years (industrial, consumer and the emerging “energy-efficient” economy) and how each county can adapt to the 21st Century. Part 2, How The Wisdom Of Our Ancestors Made Us Healthy, Wealthy And Wise…. And Is Doing So Again. The land use and transportation patterns set 100 years ago in the Burnham Plan cemented Cook County as the world’s industrial powerhouse for over three decades and the entire region prospered. Part 2 suggests how Chicago’s pattern makes it easier for the entire region to prosper again in the new energy-efficient economy.
Part 3, Consumerism And DuPage Today, explores how this county’s development mirrored the consumer economy; blossoming in the 1960s and ending in today’s recession. But these land use patterns will work against most suburbs’ ability to compete in the 21st Century economy… unless citizens get what they want: transportation options supported by more compact communities.
Part 4, Can Exurbs Become Sustainable Suburbs?, asks how Kendall County can test greenfield development patterns that meet 21st Century challenges.
Part 5, Start Now If You Expect To Grow, argues that those community leaders who make local decisions that support the region’s plan starting in 2010 will succeed in helping their communities compete in the emerging economy. And those leaders who do not, will not. permalink  |
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| |  | FLIP students brainstorming at a recent session |
by Erin Aleman
11/3/09 Last month I gave a presentation at the American Planning Association’s Tuesdays at APA on engaging youth in the planning process. I was interested to see who would show up for my presentation and was pleasantly surprised to learn that many of the audience members were involved in youth planning programs to some degree. Engaging youth in planning isn’t a new idea. Wacker’s Manual is one of the lasting legacies of Daniel Burnham’s 1909 Plan of Chicago. It was created for eighth graders so that they too would understand the benefits of good planning. I have been involved in the development of CMAP’s Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) program since its inception in 2008. FLIP is a leadership development and regional planning program for high school aged youth living in northeastern Illinois. FLIP has just begun its second year and I have to say we learned a lot from the first year of FLIP. In putting my presentation together I spent some time reflecting on why our pilot program was such a success. To figure out what might interest young people in what planners do for a living, we held a “focus group” with local high school students. There’s no better way to discover what turns young people on to extra-curricular programs than to get it straight from them. Did we, as adults, need to provide incentives? How could this program be mutually beneficial to both CMAP and the students? Some other things to keep in mind when creating a youth program is to have the program at a time when youth are available – for us it ended up being Saturdays – and to have a clear goal for the program. Finally, I would recommend any successful youth program reassess itself throughout the program with the help of student participants. Often students have thoughtful, creative solutions that can improve your program and by way of doing so it empowers them to take ownership of the program and make it the best it can be. There are a lot of resources out there for developing your own youth program. Here are a few that might be useful: National League of Cities: Institute for Youth, Education, and Families
APA’s ResoucesZine and other youth resources
National Engineers’ Week Future City Competition
Chicago Botanic Garden’s Fairchild Challenge
Planner’s Network: Young Planners Network
National Geographic’s Xpedition site In case you missed my presentation at Tuesdays at APA, you can listen to a podcast of the presentation on iTunes or download the presentation here. permalink |
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by Anne Holub
10/29/09 In each of our 57 Invent the Future Workshops this summer, we asked participants to write down their regional priorities on sticky notes that we then displayed for discussion. We recently typed up all of those notes, and plugged them into Wordle visualizations, making for some cool art that speaks to your priorities for Northeastern Illinois. Check out all of our Wordles here including ones for economic development, education, and civic involvement. 
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| | by Anne Holub
10/16/09  Today's Flickr Photo comes from Jackson Park's Osaka Garden in Chicago and was provided by Flickr user phototravel1 in our pool. Originally designed for the World Columbian Exposition in 1893 by Frederick Law Olmstead (the renouned landscape architect who also designed much of New York City's Central Park), Jackson Park hosts a beautiful Japanese garden. Get out and explore it today and enjoy the fall colors! permalink |
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| | by Shana Alford
10/23/09 Aggressive efforts toward cleaning up water pollution are increasing across the nation. Although Congress enacted the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) decades ago, water pollution remains a critical issue. Regulators have been learning more about the sources of water pollution and are progressively making violators more visible and accountable.
A Chicago Tribune series on water pollution specifically highlighted dry cleaning facilities as contributors to air and water pollution. Illinois EPA identified slightly more than 400 dry cleaners statewide, where the toxic chemical perchloroethylene, also known as PCE or perc, has contaminated soil or poses a threat to nearby water supplies. Many of these sites are within the northeastern region. Exposure to perc could lead to to cancer, liver damage, neurological problems and other ailments. Although this chemical has been used for decades, little was known about its lurking contamination. A lawsuit filed by the Sierra Club against the US EPA further highlighted the role that regulation plays in keeping the environment healthy and clean.
View high priority cleanup areas in the Northeastern Region and statewide, as provided by the Chicago Tribune.
CMAP has included brownfield redevelopment and wastewater management in the GO TO 2040 plan because of their critical links to environmental health and safety in the region. Please also view the latest Air Quality Snapshot in the region.
Interested in finding eco-friendly dry cleaners in your area? Click Here.
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| Just a comment regarding PCE replacement. The siloxane based product marketed by "GreenEarth" and perhaps others is not perfectly environmentally friendly. There are hidden costs.
Early reports indicate a significant increase in siloxanes received at wastewater treatment plants in communities with this type of dry cleaner. Siloxane becomes a problem when treatment plants attempt to be energy efficient by producing and using methane gas for heating and electric power generation. When siloxane is burned it reverts to sand which fouls and damages expensive equipment. Siloxanes can be effectively removed from the methane but that process costs money to build and operate.
This issue has yet to draw much attention but is real and should be considered in the permitting of dry cleaning facilities.
Posted by: Administrator on 10/26/2009 |
| Arthur, Thank you for your comment on this very important topic. It is good to keep in mind how to replace these contaminating products for the best results to the environment.
Posted by: Administrator on 10/26/2009 |
| | .jpg "MPC contest") by Karin Sommer, MPC
10/20/09
With hundreds of parks and community gardens, miles of lakefront beaches, bustling neighborhoods and city centers, and world-class architecture, everyone is sure to have a favorite public space in the Chicago region. This summer, the Metropolitan Planning Council asked residents to pick their favorite place and submit it to the "What Makes Your Place Great" contest. The response was overwhelming – more than 50 submissions from around the region – from gardens and public plazas to coffee shops and hiking trails – were nominated. More than 8,000 votes later, four public spaces emerged as shining examples of the amazing public spaces in Chicagoland. These four spaces exemplify the way people in the region use and love their public spaces, and the positive impact the spaces have on their neighborhoods.  On Wednesday, Oct. 28, the people behind the four winning submissions will talk about the history of their space and how it has influenced their community at MPC’s What Makes Your Place Great? Roundtable. Come learn about how a community garden in South Chicago is helping to make the neighborhood safe, ways the retail stores in the Shops of Long Grove contribute to a sense of community, how a garden in Albany Park has brought neighbors together, and the pride Aurora resident’s have in their beautiful and historic Phillips Park.
Interested in learning more about the contest? Check out this eight-minute feature from the Sept. 24th broadcast of Chicago Tonight. Space is limited, so register now! Register online at http://www.metroplanning.org/calendar.asp?objectID=5053. Questions? Contact Karin Sommer at ksommer@metroplanning.org or 312-863-6044. What Makes Your Place Great? Roundtable
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Metropolitan Planning Council Conference Center
140 S. Dearborn St., Suite 1400, Chicago, IL. 60603
Cost for MPC donors: $15.00
Cost for non-donors: $30.00 permalink |
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by Sean Glowacz
10/02/09CMAP held an Invent the Future workshop on Thursday, August 27th at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle. We began the workshop by asking participants to envision the region in 2040. By 2040, the region is expected to realize an increase of 2.8 million residents. What changes will we need to make to accommodate this expected growth? Many participants voiced a desire to improve transportation policy throughout the region. If everyone relies on their own personal automobile for transportation in the future, traffic congestion will reach unbearable levels. CMAP has been researching many different strategies that can be used to improve regional traffic conditions. Specifically, one of the strategies that we have been looking into is called carsharing. Carsharing is a group of individuals or organizations that share the costs associated with car ownership. The majority of carsharing groups in the U.S. are membership based organizations, both profit and nonprofit, that give their membership access to a fleet of vehicles for short term use. The static expense of owning and operating a personal vehicle is turned into a variable cost of user fees based upon time and miles driven. Carsharing is not only serving individuals. Businesses and governmental organizations are showing an increased interest in carsharing as a way to reduce their vehicle fleet costs. The success of carsharing organizations has shown that carsharing works best in urban areas with high population densities that support other modes of transportation including transit, walking, and bicycling. These other modes are critical to the success of carsharing since users can not be solely dependent on the carsharing vehicles for transportation. To read more about CMAP’s research in this area, please read our Carsharing Strategy Paper. If you’d like to see the unique scenario participants created at the Morton Arboretum, click here. permalink |
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