The exchanges over the Historic Preservation Commission’s refusal to approve the construction of 24 new luxury units in the Boulevard Arcade Building between Josh VanderBerg (“Preservation isn’t progress,” Viewpoints, Oct. 8) and David Bates, (“The role of the Historic Preservation Commission,” Viewpoints, Oct. 22) raise important considerations that impact housing policy decisions. We are concerned about what these exchanges omit and even get wrong.
VanderBerg rightly points out that single-focus historic preservation interests and single-family zoning contribute to racial exclusion in housing. Bates, on the other hand, sees historic preservation operating in its own bubble, protecting the community’s architectural heritage (an agreed-upon good), while ignoring the historically negative role in hindering racial diversity and equity.
Both fail to examine affordability in preservation decisions on new construction. In doing so, they ignore past and recent reports linking housing affordability and racial equity found in the village’s landmark housing studies, “Impediments to Fair Housing” (2010) and the “Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Report” (MMCR, 2024).
VanderBerg claims that simply building more luxury apartments like the units in the proposed Boulevard Arcade project will correct the growing housing affordability crisis. He rejects the MMCR that advocates for a variety of affordable housing strategies, including updating Oak Park’s very weak Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IHO).
We believe that neither unfettered free-market development nor historic preservation isolated from our racial and economic reality will ensure new affordable and racially integrated housing in Oak Park. Real data backs our assertion:
● Oak Park’s IHO weaknesses have come into sharp focus with the discussion of the Boulevard Arcade project. Because the current IHO does not apply to development projects of 25 and under, no affordable units will be built.
● Although Vanderberg has claimed Oak Park ranks at the top in the state in affordable housing, Oak Park ranks in the bottom 7% in housing affordability (Illinois Housing Development Authority).
● A May 6 Wednesday Journal article documents that 44% of Oak Park renters are housing cost burdened.
● The MMCR documents a significant decline in Black population linked to the lack of affordable housing. Data from school report cards confirm a 30% drop in Black population since 2010.
Both VanderBerg and Bate should understand that all housing policy must consider affordability, racial equity, and inclusion. Not doing so reinforces generations-old racial biases in housing opportunity in Oak Park.
Finally, we believe it is now time for the village to strengthen the current, weak, and ineffective Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. We will address changes in the IHO and other affordable housing strategies in a future One View.
Henry Fulkerson submitted this on behalf of Oak Parkers for Affordable Housing, a network of individuals and allied groups working to ensure racially equitable housing in Oak Park.