Perkins+Will

Chicago is known for its diverse neighborhoods, but it is also a city of 50 wards, each led by an alderperson with their own agenda. As 2025 begins, the city is grappling with budget issues, population growth, and rising crime perception, while aldermanic prerogative—where each alderman has veto power over development in their ward—adds another layer of hurdles to solving these challenges. We’ll examine this issue today through the lens of two major residential projects currently stuck in bureaucratic red tape, including Old Town Canvas, which was blocked by Alderman Brian Hopkins just yesterday.

The mixed-use development at 1450 N Larrabee Street in Old Town is set to advance to the Committee on Zoning. The wedge-shaped site is bound by the angled portion of N Clybourn Avenue on the west side, with the vacant lot having been the home of the Near North Career Metropolitan High School. The development team is made up of the Chicago Housing Authority, Pennrose Properties, Hunt Companies, Imagine Group, and a Cabrini-Green resident group, with JGMA serving as the architect.