Chicago council expands granny flat with limits
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New Ald. Walter "Red" Burnett and his predecessor and father Walter Burnett at the Thursday City Council meeting. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
Thursday's Chicago City Council meeting brought a new alderman with a familiar name, a failed plan to reshuffle council leadership and fresh rules on coach houses and attic flats.
🏠 Granny flats-lite: After months of fights over expanding coach house construction, the council passed a watered-down accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance with key tweaks.
- Changes allow alders to nix ADUs in certain wards, and require homeowners to hire apprentice labor for some building projects.
What they're saying: Supporters of the original ordinance worry the restrictions will hamper efforts to fill the 120,000-unit shortage of affordable housing in the city.
- Others applauded the changes for preserving aldermanic control and the "character" of single-family home communities.
- Sponsor Ald. Bennett Lawson says there is room for the law to change and meet the needs of different areas over time.
🗳️ The son also rises: The council approved 29-year-old Ald. Walter (Red) Burnett to succeed his newly retired dad, Walter Burnett Jr., as leader of the 27th ward.
- "I'm excited. It's a true honor to work with the council, and I'm getting ready to do some good work," Burnett told Axios Thursday as he stood next to his father outside the chamber.
❌ Council reshuffle blocked: Attempts to fill two other positions vacated by Burnett Jr., however, failed.
- A widely reported plan by Mayor Brandon Johnson to make West Side Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) vice mayor and progressive ally Ald. Daniel LaSpata (1st) chair of the powerful zoning committee blew up Thursday amid fights over racial representation and other issues.
- Despite an impromptu confab, where eight officials stuffed into a copy machine closet before the potential vote, alders failed to reach a deal and pushed any leadership changes to the fall.
🎰 Video gambling legislation aimed at allowing gaming terminals in the city limits was held.
🏟️ The Chicago Fire's South Loop stadium plan at the 78 won approval.
💰 A $90 million settlement to compensate more than 170 shakedown victims of officer Ronald Watts passed.
🏛️ New Obama Center provisions requiring land and money to be set aside for affordable housing near the center passed.
🐕 Kids and pets: Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez (25th) introduced a resolution urging state and federal leaders to investigate claims of child endangerment by immigration agents in the process of recent apprehensions.
- Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43rd) presented a proposal to allow dogs in some restaurants with their human pals.