The upzoning of approximately 600 properties along the northernmost five miles of Western Avenue was completed this month to promote more consistent and vibrant neighborhood development patterns, the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) announced today.

Coordinated by DPD in partnership with the offices of Ald. Andrez Vasquez (40th), Ald. Matt Martin (47th), and Ald. Maria Hadden (49th), the zoning changes were recommended by the Western Avenue Corridor Study, a planning document adopted by the Chicago Plan Commission in November 2022.

Most of the affected properties were changed to Business Community Shopping District (B3) or Neighborhood Mixed-Use District (B2) designations, which are intended to promote a walkable, high-density, mixed-use environment with a broad range of retail and service uses.

The changes include a maximum floor area ratio of 3, with maximum building heights of five to six stories. Existing buildings and businesses may continue to operate as usual.

“The changes will promote a more predictable and cohesive development environment compared to the random residential, commercial and business zoning that previously characterized the corridor,” DPD Commissioner Ciere Boatright said. “Over time, the new zoning will help create dynamic centers of activity at key intersections while providing for more housing and retail opportunities.”

• In the 40th Ward, the 6450 to 7000 blocks of north Western were changed to B3-3 or B2-3 from C1-2, C2-2, RT-4, RM-5, RS-2, B1-2 or B3-2. (map)
• In the 47th Ward, the 3600 to 4800 blocks were changed to B3-3 from RT-4, RM-5 C1-2, C2-2, B1-3, B2-2, B2-3, B3-1.5 or B3-2. (map)
• In the 49th Ward, the 7500 block was changed to B3-3 from B3-2. (map)

The B3-3 designation generally accommodates retail and commercial uses on the ground floor and zero to five stories of commercial or residential uses above. The B2-3 designation allows ground-floor commercial or residential uses.

Study area properties that remain unchanged include parcels in the 50th Ward, properties with Planned Development designations and major open spaces like Warren Park, West Ridge Nature Center and Korczak Park.

Outreach for the Western Avenue Corridor Study included more than 20 in-person and virtual community meetings, dozens of public transit advertisements and business interviews, more than 1,700 survey responses, thousands of flyers and tens of thousands of direct mail postcards. The study area spanned the length of Western between Addition and Howard streets.