The 1st Ward has a diverse group of residents, neighborhood associations, block clubs, and other community groups interested in land use, zoning, and development issues. Alderman La Spata uses a community based zoning review process, which centers community input in making decisions about development in the 1st Ward. The driving values of 1st Ward Community Zoning are transparency, fairness, and equity.

How to Review 1st Ward Zoning Pages:
To improve user interface, the 1st Ward zoning universe has been redesigned" (May 2025):

On this page, you will find immediate 1st Ward zoning meetings, schedule of future meetings, and process documents (this is helpful for developers, for example).
We have a separate page to list and describe specific cases. This includes zoning inquiries (which may or may not become full-fledged proposals); cases in progress; and approved cases.

This page is updated to reflect the May 2023 through May 2027 term. A full archive of the original zoning website for the first term is available.

As of August 1, 2023, the 1st Ward features a Zoning and Development Guiding Principles website, to facilitate policy-based review of zoning changes and improve transparency in zoning review.

Please send feedback regarding zoning cases to zoning@the1stward.com.

1st Ward First Looks
Due to a change in Facebook video storage policy, 1st Ward First Look virtual meetings will now be posted on our website. 1st Ward First Look zoning cases are available on our Video Archive page.

1st Ward Zoning Updates

ZONING UPDATE (added August 8, 2024): The 1st Ward Office has submitted a new State of the Ward zoning report to Alderman La Spata. This zoning report includes a summary of citywide Committee on Zoning, Landmark, and Building Standards statistics; 1st Ward zoning cases; an analysis of building permits and Additional Dwelling Units in 1st Ward; and an ongoing discussion of policy issues that Alderman La Spata and the 1st Ward Office are working on.

RSVP to All Zoning Meetings! If you like to learn about development in the 1st Ward, you can RSVP to receive a ZOOM link to all future meetings.

Virtual Zoning Meeting expected 2025 dates through 2025 Budget and Participatory Budgeting season

Monday, June 9, 2025 (newsletter deadline May 16, 2025) Due to lack of timely completed intake packets, this date will not have a 1st Ward First Look

Monday, June 16, 2025 (newsletter deadline May 23, 2025) Due to lack of timely completed intake packets, this date will not have a 1st Ward First Look

Monday, June 30, 2025 (newsletter deadline June 6, 2025)

Monday, July 7, 2025 (newsletter deadline June 13, 2025)

Monday, July 21, 2025 (newsletter deadline June 27, 2025)

Monday, August 4, 2025 (newsletter deadline July 11, 2025)

Monday, August 18, 2025 (newsletter deadline July 25, 2025)

Monday, August 25, 2025 (newsletter deadline August 1, 2025)

During budget and participatory budgeting seasons, 1st Ward First Look meetings will be scheduled roughly 3 to 4 weeks from completed intake packet and may be contingent upon other scheduling matters.

Virtual Feedback and Community Review Updates (updated May 21, 2025)

FEEDBACK WANTED! 2240 North Milwaukee A property owner is proposing an 80-foot tall, 50 unit mixed-use redevelopment under the Milwaukee Avenue Special Character Overlay District plan. You can review the SCOD protocol through the Milwaukee Avenue Urban Identity website, and review all plan iterations for this site (including a previously approved zoning map amendment for this property ten years ago), and provide feedback.

PRELIMINARY FEEDBACK AVAILABLE! 1550 North Milwaukee A contract purchaser is proposing three new alternative redevelopment scenarios for the former Lubinski Furniture building. The building is currently a four-story, 6 dwelling unit building, including numerous arts spaces above ground floor retail. The developer is proposing alternative development schemes that would either fill in the rear of the lot entirely, to establish a 9-floor addition; partially fill in the rear of the lot entirely, for a partial 9-story addition; and a proposal within the current framework of the building for 33 dwelling units and ground floor retail. You can review all plan iterations and provide feedback.

As of May 6, 2025, a preliminary feedback summary is available

MILWAUKEE AVENUE ZONING STUDY REQUEST: In February 2025, Alderman La Spata submitted a letter to the Department of Planning and Development, to advocate for a proactive study of the zoning on Milwaukee Avenue. Since the Milwaukee Avenue Urban Identity plan was completed and the Special Character Overlay District passed City Council, standardized design plans now apply to the majority of the corridor of Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square. A community process related to the potential commercial uses and Transit-Served Location bonuses along the corridor is expected in conjunction with this study.

NO ZONING CHANGE NEEDED -- 1501 North Ashland The 1st Ward Office received a request to introduce an ordinance to exempt this property from the commercial parking barrier prohibitions of the Municipal Code of Chicago, in order to allow vehicles to enter the parking garage for 44-dwelling unit, 22-parking space mixed use development. This proposal does not require any zoning relief via City Council (such as a zoning change), but it does require ordinance submittal to allow parking. If Alderman La Spata does not submit this ordinance, the development would load from the surface streets, which would create pedestrian and traffic safety hazards. The 1st Ward Office is discussing design elements with the developer, as well as collecting other details about construction timeline. The ground-floor commercial is proposed to be occupied by a showroom for the current commercial operator on the site. [You can review the proposed plans].

+ Past Meetings

This list begins with COVID-19 era meetings. You can read the 1st Ward Zoning State of the Ward from 2019 - 2020 for a list of pre-pandemic era zoning meetings.

1533 - 1535 West Fry On Tuesday, May 26, 2020, the 1st Ward Office will host a virtual zoning meeting on 1533 - 1535 West Fry.

1437 North California On Tuesday, June 23, 2020, the 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual zoning meeting on 1437 North California. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

1512 West Ohio: On Monday, August 17, the 1st Ward office hosted a virtual zoning meeting on 1512 W Ohio.

2120 North Mozart: On Monday, September 14, 2020, the 1st Ward Office held a virtual meeting to discuss the proposed adaptive reuse of the Humboldt Park United Methodist Church, to accommodate 22 affordable housing units. Answers to the questions raised at the meeting are available here.

November 2, 2020: The 1st Ward Office hosted a 1st Ward First Look, for two cases: 2103 West Chicago (proposed redevelopment to create 7 total units) and 1317-1335 North Western (proposed five-story, 40 condo unit development).

November 24, 2020: The 1st Ward Office hosted a 1st Ward First Look for 1200 North Ashland (rooftop dining) and 2500 West Moffat (application withdrawn prior to meeting)

Monday, February 1, 2021: The 1st Ward office hosted a 1st Ward First Look for 1358 West Ohio.

Tuesday, March 2, 2021: Alderman La Spata and the 1st Ward office hosted a community meeting on 1317 - 1335 North Western, a revised proposal to construct 38 for-sale condos.

Monday, April 19, 2021: The 1st Ward office hosted a 1st Ward First Look for 2619 West Armitage and one ADU proposal.

Tuesday, April 20, 2021: The 1st Ward office hosted a virtual meeting for 1837 N Monticello and 1800 - 1804 N Monticello.

Monday, April 26, 2021: The 1st Ward office hosted a 1st Ward First Look for 2934 West Medill.

Monday, May 10, 2021: The 1st Ward office hosted a 1st ward First Look for 1503 West Walton

Monday, June 14, 2021 The 1st Ward office hosted a 1st Ward First Look for three proposals: 1304 West Ohio; 1638 West Ohio; 1535 North Maplewood.

Monday, June 28, 2021 The 1st Ward Office hosted a 1st Ward First Look for the new owner of the Congress Theater. There is no proposed zoning change at the Congress Theater; a new development team is proposing to purchase the existing Planned Development to rehabilitate the Congress Theater with a combination of 3-to-5 retail storefronts; hotel space; 14 affordable housing units; and a 3,500 seat venue. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, August 30, 2021 The 1st Ward Office hosted a 1st Ward First Look for three cases: 1932 North Fairfield (Proposed upzoning to facilitate rehabilitation and addition to existing multi-unit residence); 1509 West Fry Street (Proposed upzoning to facilitate rehabilitation and addition to existing multi-unit residence); and 1912 West Division (a current parking lot use that has the hardship of a utility easement in the rear of the property, which is currently owned and operated by AT&T. AT&T will not move the utility features, which blocks alley access to the property. Since this is a transit-served lot, and due to the problems associated with a curb cut on Division Street to serve a residential property, the applicant proposes to redevelop the parking lot with a four-story, 7 unit mixed use building, which includes 1 storefront, and 0 parking spaces).

Monday, September 27, 2021 The 1st Ward Office hosted a 1st Ward First Look for a proposed recreational cannabis dispensary at 1212 N Ashland.

Monday, November 8, 2021 The 1st Ward Office hosted a Virtual 1st Ward First Look for the following cases: 2516 West Thomas; 1513 West Erie; and, 1416 North Maplewood.

Monday, November 15, 2021 The 1st Ward Office hosted a Virtual Zoning Meeting for 2934 West Medill. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, December 6, 2021 The 1st Ward Office hosted a Virtual 1st Ward First Look for 2536 West North; the 1st Ward staff provided an announcement about a proposed zoning map amendment to bring the existing building and business at 1516 N Milwaukee into conformance with the Code.

Monday, January 24, 2022 The 1st Ward Office hosted a Virtual 1st Ward First Look meeting for 1111 N Western.

Monday, February 21, 2022 The 1st Ward hosted a Virtual First Look meeting for 1320 N Wicker Park and the Fullerton / Washtenaw redevelopment proposals.

Monday, April 18, 2022 The 1st Ward hosted a Virtual First Look meeting for two additional dwelling unit proposals, and 2431 W Fullerton proposals.

Monday, May 16, 2022 The 1st Ward hosted a Virtual First Look for 1839 - 1841 North Albany

Monday, June 13, 2022 The 1st Ward hosted a Virtual First Look for 2008 - 2010 North Western and an updated proposal at 1416 North Maplewood.

Monday, July 11, 2022 The 1st Ward hosted a Virtual First Look for 1376 West Grand.

Monday, September 19, 2022 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual zoning meeting on 1746 North California and a Fullerton / Washtenaw update.

Monday, November 7, 2022 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual zoning meeting on 1839 - 1841 North Albany and 2418 North Milwaukee ("The Hollander").

Monday, January 30, 2023 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual 1st Ward First look on 2175 North Maplewood and an updated proposal at 2429 - 2431 West Fullerton.

Monday, April 10, 2023 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual 1st Ward First Look on 1342 West Ohio and 1859 N Washtenaw / 2649 W Cortland. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, April 17, 2023 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual 1st Ward First Look on 1703 West Chicago and an informational presentation on community survey results on 1501 North Oakley. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, May 8, 2023 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual 1st Ward First Look on 2412 West Belden and 2714 West St Helen, and an informational meeting on two zoning cases that transferred from the 2nd Ward to 1st Ward in the Division / Ashland area. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, June 12, 2023 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual 1st Ward First Look on 1746 West Division. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, June 26, 2023 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual 1st Ward First Look on 1815 - 1821 North California. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, October 8, 2023 the 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual 1st Ward First Look on 1805 N Campbell. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, December 18, 2023 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual zoning meeting, including a 1st Ward First Look for 1441 West Cortez and a community update meeting on 2429 - 2431 West Fullerton. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, January 22, 2024 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual zoning meeting for updated plans at 2714 West St Helen. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, March 25, 2024 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual zoning meeting for updated plans at 2418 North Milwaukee. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, April 29, 2024 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual 1st ward First Look for 1239 North Wood. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, May 20, 2024 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual community meeting on updates for plans at 1815 - 1821 N California. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, June 3, 2024 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual 1st ward First Look for 2838-2840 W. Shakespeare Avenue/2148-2150 N. Mozart Street. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, June 17, 2024 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual Community Meeting for plan updates on 1805 N Campbell. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, August 5, 2024 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual 1st Ward First Look for 1642 West Le Moyne and 1638 West Ohio. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, September 30, 2024 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual 1st Ward First Look for 1228 West Race and 1420 West Division. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, November 24, 2024 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual zoning meeting for 2638 West Cortland and 1420 West Division. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, December 9, 2024 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual 1st Ward First Look for 1317 North Ashland. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, January 6, 2025 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual zoning meeting to provide informational updates on 1239 North Wood. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, January 13, 2025 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual zoning meeting on 2625 North Talman. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, February 24, 2025 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual 1st Ward First Look for 1511 West Augusta and 600 - 612 North Ogden. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, April 28, 2025 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual 1st Ward First Look for 1550 North Milwaukee. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

Monday, May 12, 2025 The 1st Ward Office hosted a virtual 1st Ward First Look for 2240 North Milwaukee. The live simulcast is available via the 1st Ward Video Drive.

1st Ward Process

As of June 1, 2023, this page will be updated to reflect the May 2019 through May 2023 term. A full archive of the original zoning website for the first term is available.

UPDATE! Zoning State of the Ward The 1st Ward Office submitted a new State of the Ward report to Alderman La Spata. This is our annual policy document summarizing specific zoning cases in the Ward and discussing policy concerns.

Read the 2023 State of the Ward Document.

Read the previous State of the Ward Document (posted August 4, 2022)

2024 Summary Between June 2023 and May 2024, approved zoning map amendments within the 1st Ward could create 62 new housing units, approximately 8 of which are affordable (13% affordable units). These zoning map amendments included eight private amendments (six by mixed-use or residential developers, two by businesses) and one Aldermanic introduction (a ministerial zoning change to reset a lapsed Type 1 zoning map amendment pursuant to 17-13-0311 of the Municipal Code).

While the number of zoning map amendments passed citywide between June 2023 and May 2024 declined, it is not entirely clear that structural issues caused the decline in these ordinances. For example, there were specific changes in policy related to the number of Aldermanic zoning changes passed (mostly due to the completion of / lack of new zoning amendments for a large 24th Ward single unit residence development project) and a lack of amendments to existing Planned Developments.

In the 1st Ward, there was much less of a decline in zoning amendments than citywide, as the number of zoning map amendments remained mostly steady from 2023 to 2024 (City Council approved 10 zoning ordinances in the 1st ward between June 2022 - May 2023, and 9 zoning ordinances between June 2023 - May 2024). Alderman La Spata and the 1st Ward office continued to support the additional dwelling unit program, which continues to produce a large number of preapprovals in the 1st Ward.

There are concerns about the interest rate environment, which is affecting developers' perception of the ability to develop financially viable projects, and potentially impacting the number of building permits filed in the 1st Ward.

2023 Summary Following an increase in the number of zoning ordinances approved between June 2021 and May 2022, zoning approvals citywide declined between June 2022 and May 2023. There are political and industry hypotheses that could explain this decline, including the uncertainty of election season on development proposals, as well as the impact of consistent interest rate increases, supply chain disruptions, and construction cost inflation.

During Alderman La Spata's first term in office (May 2019 through May 2023), City Council approved zoning ordinances in the 1st Ward that could produce as many as 290 new housing units, 86 of which are income-limited affordable housing units (30% affordable). Based on four years of policy review and summaries, the 1st Ward Office recommended an updated zoning intake form to Alderman La Spata, and the 1st Ward Office also recommended a new zoning guiding principles website.

Additionally, you can read a State of the Ward document that discusses major zoning cases for June 2020 through May 2021, as well as broader trends and policy areas worth considering. Previous Document: The 2019 - 2021 Document is available here.

Who works on community-based zoning in the 1st Ward? Alderman La Spata and 1st Ward Office work with numerous groups on matters of zoning, development, and planning. View a map!

Are you a developer or property owner potentially interested in a zoning map amendment? Please use the office developer intake form to provide your proposal to Alderman La Spata's office. This form is only necessary for zoning map amendments; if you are appearing in front of the Zoning Board of Appeals for a special use permit or variation, please contact the 1st Ward office.

Website Version Control: The most recent substantial update of this website occurred on Wednesday, May 21, 2025; the previous 10 updates were on Friday, January 3, 2025; Thursday, October 10, 2024; Tuesday, February 21, 2024; Thursday, December 21, 2023; Wednesday, October 18, 2023; Thursday, August 17, 2023; Friday, June 30, 2023; Wednesday, May 10, 2023; Wednesday, March 1, 2023; and, Monday, January 9, 2023.