Our governor and our village president are endorsing a zoning change by adding multiunit homes in single-family blocks. The stated goal is to add affordable housing. While this may sound like a good idea, 2-, 3-, & 4-flats going up on village lots will increase the number of residents while ultimately changing the ambience of Oak Park.
And will it achieve affordable housing? Several years ago we were told that we needed to add to our population. Up went high-rises: Albion, Emerson, ReNew, Eleven 33, Oak Park Place & Porter, along with the older 100 Forest Place. This certainly added to our population and also created a congested concrete jungle. Consequently, we are living with looming high-rises and parking congestion.
Back to today and the latest push to add affordable housing to Oak Park. The multi-unit home. This change will modify our zoning ordinances, and we need to know the rules. Will we be giving up all control of future zoning, letting contractors decide what and where to build? Contractors/developers will build in response to the market. Will low- or middle-income properties give them the return they want? I think not. Also, how many 4-flats can one block absorb?
I vote no and hope our village board will do so, too.
Shelly Uslenghi
Oak Park