A year ago, after months of death and economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 virus, a murder occurred. The killing of George Floyd riveted us, triggered a sense of outrage, and sparked for many a recognition that much of what was happening in our communities wasn’t right –- that the America of 2020 didn’t match the ideals on which our nation was founded. Deep inequities and racial discrimination were visible in so many ways in our communities, ways that affected daily life and access to opportunities.

In an essay in the ULI Chicago series, Tales from the Front Lines, I asked the question, what do we as members of ULI do? I urged this powerful organization, full of people capable of solving tough problems, to “come together and work to drive change, to ensure equal access across the region” and to make “a renewed commitment to our mission of creating thriving, resilient, equitable communities.”

The year since has contained wonders and horrors. The wonders include the miracle of vaccines, created in months not decades, that free us to be almost normal again and economic policy that helped blunt the social impact of an economic shutdown – not perfect but so much better and faster than past efforts. But the horrors are evident as well, led by a surge of hate crimes, attacks motivated by skin color, creating fear just as hope should be flourishing.

Against this backdrop, the staff and key members of the ULI Chicago District Council have taken up the charge to address the divergence in conditions and opportunities in Chicago for people of color and lower-income communities. The ULI Chicago Resiliency Initiative is about creating a resilient city and region, where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. To frame the plan of work, four task forces were assembled – over 60 members/partners represented – focused on four topics: social infrastructure, physical infrastructure, economic opportunity, and housing diversity. Their recommendations involve focusing public, private, and non-profit resources on breaking down barriers to equitable communities. Their ideas will feed into the city of Chicago’s We Will Chicago comprehensive plan. The broad themes of the recommendations include:

1. The importance of a focus on people, not just places in land use policy and development. How will people use the places being designed and built? How are policies related to land use and the built environment affecting people’s lives, especially the most vulnerable? Return on Investment is important but cannot be the only consideration.
2. Support smaller, neighborhood-based developers. Equitable development will be driven by local developers intimately connected with their neighborhood. They understand opportunities in areas suffering from disinvestment better than anyone else. Supporting them involves ensuring increased access to capital (via lenders and philanthropic organization, as well as funds/programs for reducing perceived risk), partnerships in which firms with deep development expertise partner with emerging developers familiar with neighborhood opportunities, and providing greater city support (streamlined processes, financial incentives).
3. Build a more interconnected city. Chicago has extensive physical, digital and social linkages. Despite this, too many neighborhoods/areas are isolated from opportunities.
4. Align regulations to meet development goals. The ADU ordinance exemplifies this objective—if we want to create more affordable, diverse housing options, we should be willing to move away from restrictive zoning.