On Tuesday, October 8th, the Skokie Board of Trustees held a meeting to determine the future of a proposed mixed-use development at Old Orchard. I was invited by Skokie Neighbors for Housing Justice to attend a rally in support of conscious development, including affordable and accessible housing.
The developers from Westfield-Old Orchard and their partners laid out an impressive plan for a gorgeous mixed-use development including housing, shopping, entertainment, and green space. Honestly, it was a beautiful rendering of what inclusivity could look like here in Skokie. It is the type of conscious development we want here in the Village.
Unfortunately, the proposal only included a paltry 3.5% of residential units slated for as affordable. This is far below what we actually need here in Skokie, which is closer to 15% of affordable and accessible units. Let's be mindful that the mall employs many people who cannot afford to live in these proposed apartments and condos. Nor do we have enough public transportation, walking, or biking options to bring this workforce to Old Orchard.
Another shocking part of the proposal was to potentially build a hotel in Phase 2 of the development. During public comments, I was compelled to stand up and point out that we already have an unfinished hotel; a hotel skeleton that can be seen from the steps of Village Hall. Why would we even entertain a new hotel proposal when we can see such blight in our downtown.
The truth is that Skokie could benefit from this comprehensive and humanistic development for housing. And for that, I heartily support efforts to bring mixed-use development to our Village. However, we cannot just allow these developments without ALSO thinking about how to serve our community. The goal of government is to work for all residents.
That's why in my work for Meetup on Main, we outlined many such interventions for future development in District 3, an area that is particularly lacking in walkability, amenities, services, and investment. Let's continue the mission of reimagining Skokie. A Skokie that not only welcomes everyone, but a Skokie that supports and celebrates everyone.
TLDR; Yay! And also: What?!?
