Emily Talen

One Staircase Away: Alderman Matt Martin on Unlocking Chicago's Missing Middle

A single change to the building code, allowing one staircase instead of two in small buildings that meet safety standards, could make it financially viable to build thousands more homes across Chicago. 47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin joins us to explain why this seemingly mundane reform is one of the most powerful tools available for addressing Chicago's housing shortage, how he's been working with the fire department and city departments to get it across the finish line, and what everyday Chicagoans can do right now to make it happen.Matt also reflects on his path from civil rights law to City Hall, the proactive upzoning work his office has done along Western Avenue and Broadway, why family-sized apartments are disappearing, and what a 15-minute neighborhood actually looks like, happening right now at the Western Brown Line stop in Lincoln Square.Links:- 47th Ward Office: ward47.com- Strong Towns Chicago: strongtownschicago.org- Abundant Housing Illinois: abundanthousingil.orgDo you know someone who would make a great Strong Towns Chicago Podcast guest? Let us know at info@strongtownschicago.org

Appreciating ADUs with 44th Ward Alderman Bennett Lawson

Bennett Lawson was elected Alderman of Chicago's 44th Ward covering most of the Lakeview neighborhood in 2023. We talk about the impact of the citywide ADU ordinance that he sponsored, what resources are available to homeowners and tradespeople to build ADUs, and how housing legalization is gaining traction in Chicago and Illinois. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES * Chicago ADU Program [https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/additional-dwelling-units-ordinance/home.html] (site) * 44th Ward [https://www.44thward.org/] (site) * Alex Montero [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandermontero] (LinkedIn) Do you know someone who would make a great Strong Towns Chicago Podcast Guest? Let us know here [https://forms.gle/6UgX2e9y7nCsGRea9].

Talking Transit with CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen

Nora Leerhsen became Acting President of the Chicago Transit Authority in February 2025. We talk about her unconventional path to the CTA after an early career in teaching and law, the role public transportation plays in a city's social and economic health, how the agency is approaching Chicago's transportation challenges, and opportunities from recent Illinois transit reform legislation. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES * CTA Connections [https://www.youtube.com/@CTAConnections] (YouTube channel) * Moving Experiences: Stories of the CTA [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moving-experiences-stories-of-the-cta/id1804988023] (podcast) * CTA Frequent Bus Network [https://www.transitchicago.com/frequent/] (site) * Alex Montero [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandermontero] (LinkedIn) * Do you know someone who would make a great Strong Towns Chicago Podcast Guest? Let us know here [https://forms.gle/6UgX2e9y7nCsGRea9].

Panel on Bringing Back 2-to-4 Flats

Strong Towns Chicago, CNU Chicago, and Abundant Housing Illinois hold a panel to engage with small local builders and developers who work on 2-4 unit buildings, commonly called 2-4 flats, to learn from their experiences about what makes 2-4 flats different from other projects, what challenges they face when constructing or rehabilitating these buildings, and what policy changes would make it easier to build more of these in Chicago. Special thanks to Metropolitan Planning Council for hosting us in their space. Learn more at https://www.strongtownschicago.org/ [https://www.strongtownschicago.org/].

Emily Talen

We sat down with Emily Talen, an author and professor of urbanism at the University of Chicago exploring historic development patterns and gentle density. Learn more at https://www.strongtownschicago.org/ [https://www.strongtownschicago.org/].