A new report CNT released finds that acres of surface parking lots in suburban Cook County located near Metra train stations could be redeveloped to capture millions of dollars in new tax revenue, while also accommodating the growing demand for housing near transit.
As hundreds of transit activists assembled in Chicago for the 2006 Rail~volution conference, which ended on Wednesday, CNT released a new report highlighting the growing demand for diverse housing near transit, in conjunction with Reconnecting America and Strategic Economics –the partners in the Center for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD).
The National Housing Conference hosted its 75th Policy Summit in Chicago Wednesday and Thursday. This year’s theme focuses on future policy with the aptly titled, “Fulfilling the Dream: Shaping Housing Policy for Future Generations”. Much like CNT, the NHC links housing policies to issues like transportation, health and education and this year, the Housing & Transportation Affordability Index, co-developed by CNT and CTOD, is an important linkage presented and discussed at the event by CNT’s Peter Haas, Ph.D, and Reconnecting America’s Mariia Zimmerman.
**UPDATE: New Crain’s Chicago Business article covering the Affordability Index** Over 150 regional leaders gathered on June 29 for the Housing + Transportation: Moving the Region Toward Greater Affordability forum to discuss how housing and transportation affect the overall affordability of the Chicago region. The forum was co-sponsored by CNT and the Chicago Rehab Network. CNT presented new research about the relationship between housing and transportation costs, including a new tool called the Affordability Index to quantify these.
CNT has long been a proponent of transit-oriented development TOD. TOD
seeks to maximize access to mass transit and non-motorized transportation
through the location of relatively high-density, mixed-use development near
transit stops. As a way to build knowledge about TOD, CNT collaborated on
The New Transit Town.
CNT is a creative think-and-do tank that combines rigorous research with the implementation of effective solutions. CNT works across disciplines and issues, including transportation and community development, energy, water, and climate change.
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