LINCOLN PARK — Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) is looking for feedback from residents on his plan to scrap Clybourn Corridor's industrial zoning designation and open the area, including the former Finkl Steel mill, up to other types of development.
The freshman alderman wants residents to fill out an online survey to help shape the future of the area. Questions range from what should be built at the Finkl Steel site to whether infrastructure improvements should be paid for with Tax Increment Financing (TIF) money or a special property tax.
"The results of the survey will be key in charting a path to advance the priorities of the community," Hopkins said.
Reporter Mina Bloom on the latest on possible re-zoning of Clybourn Corridor.
The Clybourn Corridor includes 115 acres roughly bounded by Clybourn Avenue, the Chicago River, and North and Southport avenues. In 1988, it became Chicago's first Planned Manufacturing District. Today, there are 15 other such districts across the city.
Hopkins has said that he's looking for community "consensus" before moving ahead at the city level.
If the community largely supports the plan, Hopkins said it will likely go up for a vote in City Council, where it will be treated as an amendment to a zoning change.
"We amend zoning designations all the time. At its core, that's what it is. No more and no less," Hopkins previously said. "It is more complicated because a [Planned Manufacturing District] has never been removed before. But that won't be an obstacle."
At the first community meeting on the future of the Clybourn Corridor, more residents and community leaders spoke out in favor of removing the area's industrial zoning than against it.
A second community meeting is set for 6 p.m. June 6 at UI Labs, 1415 N. Cherry St. Officials from the city's department of planning will be there to unveil ideas for the area that Hopkins said he hasn't even seen yet.
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