Embrace Mixed Use

The Art's District, Southtown, the Pleasant District, the Hemingway District, Downtown Oak Park. What do all of these places have in common? They are vibrant business districts that mix residential and commercial use. They feature a diverse array of walkable amenities, including shops, restaurants, professional offices, and grocery stores.

What else do they have in common?

They were mostly built out 100 years ago. This is when zoning code began to strictly segregate residential and commercial land use. Since that time those districts haven't been allowed to grow, and no new districts have been added. In residential districts, no corner coffee shops are allowed. No bodegas. No cute local cafes. Whatever was a permitted use 100 years ago, is what we get today. That seems odd, inflexible and not at all progressive.

If we want a truly sustainable future, one in which we use our cars less, and walk/bike more, we need to encourage walkable commercial amenities in our neighborhoods. We also need to allow for denser areas to develop new business districts that serve a growing population.