27th Ward Newsletter #2

I want to talk plainly about density and transit.

In the 27th Ward, these issues are connected because they shape who can live here, how people move through the city, and whether Chicago remains a place where working families, seniors, young people, and longtime residents can build a future.

Every day, people depend on the CTA to get to work, school, appointments, and small businesses across our neighborhoods. Transit is not just infrastructure. It is access to opportunity. That is why where we build matters.

We have been working with CTA identifying opportunities for new stations around the Ward, including: Madison St. on the Pink Line, Western Ave. on the Green Line, Racine Ave. on the Green and Pink Lines, and Division St. on the Brown and Purple Lines.

These are places where housing, jobs, retail, and transit can support one another if we plan carefully.

This does not mean every development is automatically good. Residents have real concerns about parking, affordability, traffic, schools, safety, and the character of their block. Those questions are fair, and they should be part of the conversation early.

But we also have to be honest about what happens when we do not build enough housing near transit. Demand does not disappear. Prices rise. Families have fewer options. Workers are pushed farther from their jobs. Young people who grew up here have a harder time staying here, and seniors may struggle to remain in the neighborhoods they helped build.

That is why transit-connected housing matters.

More homes near CTA stations can mean more riders, more customers for local businesses, and more choices for people who want to live in connected neighborhoods. It can also help reduce the pressure that comes from relying on cars for every part of daily life.

Density has to be done responsibly. Each proposal should be reviewed carefully. We should ask what it adds, how it fits, whether it supports affordability, and how it affects the people already living nearby. Growth should make the neighborhood stronger, not just bigger.

The 27th Ward is changing, like much of Chicago. We cannot pretend change is not happening, but we can shape it. My goal is to support development that is practical, well-planned, connected to transit, and accountable to the people who live here.

More density near transit is not a slogan. It is a practical way to give more people access to the city, support local businesses, and make better use of the transit system we already rely on.

I also want to share an update on the work being done to address traffic concerns on Division Street. CDOT has reviewed our request for mitigation of delays on Division, and temporary pavement markings on westbound Division at Elston are expected to be installed by the contractor. CDOT’s Division of Electrical Operations will also work with the Division of Traffic Safety to install left-turn traffic signal arrows and implement a new timing plan for westbound traffic.

These steps are part of the work being done to reduce delays and improve traffic flow while continuing to plan responsibly for growth and transit access in the Ward. I look forward to continuing this conversation with you.

Sincerely,

Alderman Walter Redmond Burnett

27th Ward

Read the full newsletter at: https://canva.link/b346y4rfiboh21q