In Chicago's Logan Square, activists fight gentrification and climate change by advocating for affordable housing near transit.
Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco reports for Grist.
In short:
- The push for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Logan Square aims to create inclusive, sustainable communities but faces challenges due to gentrification.
- TOD's goal is to reduce car dependency by developing residential areas near public transit, yet it's been criticized for favoring affluent tenants.
- Local activists and organizations are achieving success in integrating affordable housing and public spaces, aiming for a balanced urban development.
Key quote:
“The irony is that in the pursuit of more walkable cities, we’re actually making it so that people of color in general have to be more reliant on cars.”
— Christian Diaz, housing director at Palenque LSNA
Why this matters:
Gentrification, the process by which wealthier individuals move into neighborhoods — often displacing lower-income residents in the process — has increasingly intersected with climate change, creating a complex web of social and environmental impacts.
