Open Illinois.org

Following up on Nick’s post about TIFs in the Huffington Post, I figured it might be fitting to mention a new article–by yours truly–on the Chicago-based Gaper’s Block blog. In it, I write about the continuing TIF situation in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood.

Originally promised mixed income housing, a movie theater, a big box store and street level retail, Uptown residents have watched as 4 of 5 developers have bailed on the project, and the only part moving forward will create 178 units of low income housing. With Wilson Yard’s $52 million TIF stash, each unit will cost area taxpayers nearly $300,000.

Sounds pretty posh to me.

The plan for more low income housing is in a neighborhood where the Chicago Housing Authority’s own rules prevent it from building more low income housing. Not that rules matter or anything.

Read the entire piece here, and don’t forget to leave a comment or two!