Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily
Chicago Reform Fights Hit Housing, Schools and Ford City
Monday, May 18, 2026 · 8 min
Illinois’ housing push is moving from shortage math to state legislation, while Chicago advances a centralized affordable-housing portal. Meanwhile, CPS budget cuts and Ford City’s safety-driven closure show the cost of letting big civic problems pile up.
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Illinois’ housing push is moving from shortage math to state legislation, while Chicago advances a centralized affordable-housing portal. Meanwhile, CPS budget cuts and Ford City’s safety-driven closure show the cost of letting big civic problems pile up.
In this episode
- Illinois's BUILD plan: what it could mean for Chicagoland housing - Chicago Cityscape - Blog — Chicago Cityscape
 # Illinois's BUILD plan: what it could mean for Chicagoland housing Published on Apr. 22, 2026 by Steven Vance *Updated on Apr. 28, 2026* Illinois is closer than it has ever been to passing a serious statewide housing reform package. Governor JB Pritzker's **BUILD Plan** — short for *Building Up Illinois Development* — was the centerpiece of…
- Online affordable housing pilot advances to City Council for a vote — Chicago Reader
Online affordable housing pilot advances to City Council for a vote - Chicago Reader Credit: Amber Huff A tool to make finding affordable housing easier to locate may soon be a reality after the Committee on Housing and Real Estate advanced an ordinance to pilot a centralized online affordable housing portal.“We’ve all heard the issues with how difficult it is to find affordable housing in…
- Ford City Mall To Close In June — Block Club Chicago
WEST LAWN — Ford City Mall, a Southwest Side fixture recently labeled a “death trap” by local officials, will close June 22, officials said Friday. The decision comes one month after city officials filed an emergency motion asking a Cook County judge to force all tenants and occupants to evacuate the mall, 7601 S. Cicero Ave., citing a defective fire suppression system that posed an “imminent…
- Mayor Brandon Johnson decries further cuts to Chicago Public Schools in district’s budget plan — Chicago Tribune
Mayor Brandon Johnson decries further cuts to Chicago Public Schools in district’s budget plan | Tribune | dailygazette.com You have permission to edit this article. #### Nascar Contest #### . #### Bite Sized Share This CHIACAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson on Thursday condemned further cuts to Chicago Public Schools following the district’s latest proposal to address a yawning budget deficit by…