Lead
Trump EPA Upholds Lead Pipe Replacement Rule
In a notable departure from its deregulatory posture, the Trump administration announced Friday that it will uphold the Biden-era rule requiring most cities to replace their lead service lines within ten years.
The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, finalized in 2024, also tightened how lead levels are measured — a change that could flag more communities as out of compliance. For Chicago, which has more lead service lines than any other American city (~412,000), the mandate's survival means the federal clock keeps ticking even as the city struggles to spend its $325 million federal loan before the 2027 deadline.
The EPA's stance on replacement stands in tension with the same administration's attempt to cut CDC lead poisoning prevention grants to Illinois and three other states — cuts that remain temporarily blocked by a federal judge. In short: the feds are telling cities to replace their pipes faster while simultaneously pulling funding for the public health workers who track lead's toll.
Housing & Abundance
Pritzker Unveils Statewide Zoning Overhaul
Governor Pritzker used his budget address this week to propose the BUILD plan (Building Up Illinois Developments) — a sweeping statewide housing package that would eliminate single-family-only zoning on lots over 2,500 square feet, legalize duplexes through four-flats and ADUs on all residential land, prohibit parking minimums for middle housing, and establish statewide permitting timelines with third-party inspector fallbacks.
The plan includes $250 million in funding: $100M for site preparation infrastructure, $100M for middle housing development through IHDA, and $50M for homebuyer assistance. Illinois is roughly 142,000 units short of housing demand and needs to nearly double its current pace of homebuilding.
The Illinois Municipal League pushed back Friday, warning the plan "removes the local land use zoning authority" from cities. Housing Action Illinois endorsed it. This will be one to watch in Springfield.
Foundry Park: Lincoln Yards Reborn
Almost seven years after the original Lincoln Yards megadevelopment was approved, City Council on Wednesday greenlit Foundry Park, a scaled-back but still substantial mixed-use development along the North Branch of the Chicago River.
The first phase brings 709 housing units (95 affordable) across four buildings, anchored by a 39-story tower at Kingsbury and Cortland with office, residential, and retail space. Southport Avenue will be extended south to the river as the project's commercial spine, and the plan includes a new riverwalk and possible extension of the 606/Bloomingdale Trail.
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) cast the lone "no" vote, arguing the area will lose $800 million in public infrastructure that was mandated under the original Lincoln Yards plan. Construction could begin as early as fall 2026.
Missing Middle: Round 3 Announced
DPD on February 5 selected 35 new buildings containing 99 housing units for East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park, and McKinley Park. The $35.5 million in projects will replace 24 vacant city-owned lots with two-, three-, and four-flats sold to owner-occupants earning up to 140% of area median income ($134,400 for a two-person household).
This brings the Missing Middle pipeline to over 300 buildings across six South and West Side neighborhoods. Ground broke in North Lawndale in January on the program's first seven two-flats.
ADU Countdown: 39 Days
City Council on Wednesday expanded ADU eligibility to four additional wards — meaning more aldermen are opting their single-family zones into the program ahead of the April 1 effective date. The citywide ADU ordinance will more than double the area where ADUs may be built. Questions: adu@cityofchicago.org.
Bikes
Archer Avenue: The Race Is On
The Archer Avenue bike lane controversy has officially entered electoral politics. Brighton Park business owner Claudia Zuno announced her candidacy for 12th Ward alderperson on February 16, running against incumbent Ald. Julia Ramirez with a pledge to "remove these concrete barriers."
Zuno, a second-generation photographer and daughter of immigrant business owners, emerged from the Archer Guardians protest group that has rallied weekly since December. Streetsblog Chicago reported ties between the campaign and The Urban Center, a charter school advocacy group that has coordinated opposition efforts; Zuno says she is "not aligned or affiliated with any PAC or organizations."
For context: Archer and Kedzie saw 6,439 crashes, 1,426 injuries, and 14 deaths from 2019 to 2023. Half of those killed were pedestrians.
Food
Bloom: Last Call
Today is the final day of service at Bloom Plant Based Kitchen, the Wicker Park vegan restaurant that earned a spot among the city's best during its four-year run. Chef Rodolfo Cuadros told the Tribune that rising costs and the misperception that plant-based eating is a fad made the venture unsustainable — but plans to return with a new concept that "carries Bloom's spirit forward."
Bloom joins Kitchen 17, Native Foods, Chicago Raw, and XMarket in a wave of vegan closures that PETA's 2024 designation of Chicago as the country's most vegan-friendly city couldn't forestall. Still standing: Kale My Name, The Chicago Diner, The Black Vegan, and Penelope's Vegan Taqueria, which is expanding to Andersonville.
Meanwhile, in Evanston, a new fully plant-based restaurant called 17 opened last month at the Hilton Orrington — seating 17 people, serving 17 dishes, and run by a family of four.
Black Restaurant Week: Final Weekend
Chicago Black Restaurant Week wraps up tomorrow, Sunday February 22, with 43 participating businesses. For plant-based options, check out The Black Vegan in Little Village or Your Organic Inner G in Ashburn. No tickets needed — just show up and ask for the CBRW special.
City Council next meets February 26. Northwest Side bike network public meeting: March 5, 6-7 p.m. at Portage Park Senior Center (4150 N. Long Ave.).