Ben Wolfenstein
@steelwolfwc.bsky.social
Abundant Housing Illinois. Go Hokies.
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
Thrilled to be endorsed by Abundant Housing Illinois - an organization I work closely with to make housing more affordable across Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois.
#chicago #illinois #cookcounty #urbanism #housing
#chicago #illinois #cookcounty #urbanism #housing
Abundant Housing Illinois is proud to announce our endorsement of Drake Warren for Cook County Board of Commissioners, District 10!
Drake understands that tackling our housing shortage is essential for reducing poverty and improving quality of life for Cook County residents. 🏘️
Drake understands that tackling our housing shortage is essential for reducing poverty and improving quality of life for Cook County residents. 🏘️
December 6, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Thrilled to be endorsed by Abundant Housing Illinois - an organization I work closely with to make housing more affordable across Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois.
#chicago #illinois #cookcounty #urbanism #housing
#chicago #illinois #cookcounty #urbanism #housing
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
Abundant Housing Illinois is proud to announce our endorsement of Drake Warren for Cook County Board of Commissioners, District 10!
Drake understands that tackling our housing shortage is essential for reducing poverty and improving quality of life for Cook County residents. 🏘️
Drake understands that tackling our housing shortage is essential for reducing poverty and improving quality of life for Cook County residents. 🏘️
December 6, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Abundant Housing Illinois is proud to announce our endorsement of Drake Warren for Cook County Board of Commissioners, District 10!
Drake understands that tackling our housing shortage is essential for reducing poverty and improving quality of life for Cook County residents. 🏘️
Drake understands that tackling our housing shortage is essential for reducing poverty and improving quality of life for Cook County residents. 🏘️
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
What happens when you downzone?
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Downzoning Chicago: How Local Land Use Policy Has Reduced Housing Construction and Reinforced Segregation | Published in Findings
By Yonah Freemark, George Kisiel. Downzonings were used by US cities in the postwar period to preserve neighborhood character. These land-use policies were associated with lower housing supply, higher...
findingspress.org
November 26, 2025 at 8:33 PM
What happens when you downzone?
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
Of all the major cities in the United States, Chicago provides the greatest value, with robust amenities and culture without correlated housing costs. But if Chicago wants to retain that status, some things need to change.
op-ed by me, Stef, and Jasmine (co-leads for @abundanthousingil.bsky.social)
op-ed by me, Stef, and Jasmine (co-leads for @abundanthousingil.bsky.social)
Commentary: Make 2026 the year to achieve real progress on reforming housing affordability
Growth in and around Chicago depends on lawmakers getting it done, write leaders of Abundant Housing Illinois.
www.chicagobusiness.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Of all the major cities in the United States, Chicago provides the greatest value, with robust amenities and culture without correlated housing costs. But if Chicago wants to retain that status, some things need to change.
op-ed by me, Stef, and Jasmine (co-leads for @abundanthousingil.bsky.social)
op-ed by me, Stef, and Jasmine (co-leads for @abundanthousingil.bsky.social)
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
Chicago and Illinois urbanists have a lot to celebrate as we close out 2025, so we’re co-hosting a party! 🥳
Please join us at Haymarket Brewing on December 17 for a celebration of our wins at the second annual Big Tent Urbanist holiday party! 🏘️🚇
www.eventbrite.com/e/big-tent-u...
Please join us at Haymarket Brewing on December 17 for a celebration of our wins at the second annual Big Tent Urbanist holiday party! 🏘️🚇
www.eventbrite.com/e/big-tent-u...
Big Tent Urbanist Holiday Party
Join us for an end of the year celebration among urban-focused organizations in Chicago!
www.eventbrite.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Chicago and Illinois urbanists have a lot to celebrate as we close out 2025, so we’re co-hosting a party! 🥳
Please join us at Haymarket Brewing on December 17 for a celebration of our wins at the second annual Big Tent Urbanist holiday party! 🏘️🚇
www.eventbrite.com/e/big-tent-u...
Please join us at Haymarket Brewing on December 17 for a celebration of our wins at the second annual Big Tent Urbanist holiday party! 🏘️🚇
www.eventbrite.com/e/big-tent-u...
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
Is it time for a ballot measure to fast-track affordable housing in Chicago? Marisa Novara and Daniel Kay Hertz highlight NYC’s recent pro-housing wins — and how Chicago’s ADU fight shows we’re moving in the opposite direction. 🏘️ 🗳️
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/13/o...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/13/o...
Marisa Novara and Daniel Kay Hertz: New York nixes veto power over housing while Chicago unwisely doubles down
The recent granny flat fight in Chicago is an example of the city upholding a tradition that has held back affordable housing.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Is it time for a ballot measure to fast-track affordable housing in Chicago? Marisa Novara and Daniel Kay Hertz highlight NYC’s recent pro-housing wins — and how Chicago’s ADU fight shows we’re moving in the opposite direction. 🏘️ 🗳️
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/13/o...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/13/o...
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
if you’re a candidate following me, take note that @abundanthousingil.bsky.social is doing endorsements for these races:
Congress & Senate: questionnaires are due Dec. 1
State House & Senate, Cook County Board: due Nov. 21
(Districts must overlap Cook County)
Congress & Senate: questionnaires are due Dec. 1
State House & Senate, Cook County Board: due Nov. 21
(Districts must overlap Cook County)
November 10, 2025 at 6:53 PM
if you’re a candidate following me, take note that @abundanthousingil.bsky.social is doing endorsements for these races:
Congress & Senate: questionnaires are due Dec. 1
State House & Senate, Cook County Board: due Nov. 21
(Districts must overlap Cook County)
Congress & Senate: questionnaires are due Dec. 1
State House & Senate, Cook County Board: due Nov. 21
(Districts must overlap Cook County)
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
November 9, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Not enough people are paying attention to the Canadian Premier League (soccer) championship game being played in half a foot of snow. They're currently plowing the field before extra time.
November 10, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Not enough people are paying attention to the Canadian Premier League (soccer) championship game being played in half a foot of snow. They're currently plowing the field before extra time.
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
Want to learn more about the parking requirements impacted by the transit bill? Check out this blog post written by AHIL Lead Steven Vance!
chi.streetsblog.org/2025/10/31/i...
chi.streetsblog.org/2025/10/31/i...
Illinois legislature adopts People Over Parking Act to right-size parking requirements in transit-served areas - Streetsblog Chicago
At about 4:22 AM this morning the Illinois Senate concurred with the Illinois House on bill SB 2111, approving a revenues and reform package that will avert the Chicagoland transit fiscal cliff, struc...
chi.streetsblog.org
November 2, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Want to learn more about the parking requirements impacted by the transit bill? Check out this blog post written by AHIL Lead Steven Vance!
chi.streetsblog.org/2025/10/31/i...
chi.streetsblog.org/2025/10/31/i...
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
Everyone’s talking about Illinois’ big transit bill, but here’s what you might’ve missed: it also eliminates parking mandates near high-frequency transit stops statewide! ✨🥳
What counts as high-frequency transit?
🚇 Within 1/2 mile of rail stations and bus hubs
🚍 Within 1/8 mile of bus corridors
What counts as high-frequency transit?
🚇 Within 1/2 mile of rail stations and bus hubs
🚍 Within 1/8 mile of bus corridors
November 2, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Everyone’s talking about Illinois’ big transit bill, but here’s what you might’ve missed: it also eliminates parking mandates near high-frequency transit stops statewide! ✨🥳
What counts as high-frequency transit?
🚇 Within 1/2 mile of rail stations and bus hubs
🚍 Within 1/8 mile of bus corridors
What counts as high-frequency transit?
🚇 Within 1/2 mile of rail stations and bus hubs
🚍 Within 1/8 mile of bus corridors
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
Illinois adopted parking reform in transit adjacent areas this morning
The bill, SB2111, goes to the Governor
cc @steelwolfwc.bsky.social @parkingreform.org
The bill, SB2111, goes to the Governor
cc @steelwolfwc.bsky.social @parkingreform.org
Yep! People Over Parking and transit-supportive development authority are included in the bill that passed
ilga.gov/Legislation/...
(HAM3+4, house amendments 3 and 4)
ilga.gov/Legislation/...
(HAM3+4, house amendments 3 and 4)
October 31, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Illinois adopted parking reform in transit adjacent areas this morning
The bill, SB2111, goes to the Governor
cc @steelwolfwc.bsky.social @parkingreform.org
The bill, SB2111, goes to the Governor
cc @steelwolfwc.bsky.social @parkingreform.org
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
Illinois transit is going to be bigger and better than ever! SB2111 passed!!!
October 31, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Illinois transit is going to be bigger and better than ever! SB2111 passed!!!
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
It actually happened! Oh my!
(I’m not crying, you’re crying!)
(I’m not crying, you’re crying!)
SB2111 passes the Senate 36-21
October 31, 2025 at 9:25 AM
It actually happened! Oh my!
(I’m not crying, you’re crying!)
(I’m not crying, you’re crying!)
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
I was thinking that if Illinois has very bad roads despite downstate receiving 55% of MFT sales tax revenue then perhaps “more funding” isn’t a sufficient solution and something else needs to be fixed (quality control, contract oversight, too many roads, etc.)
October 31, 2025 at 9:15 AM
I was thinking that if Illinois has very bad roads despite downstate receiving 55% of MFT sales tax revenue then perhaps “more funding” isn’t a sufficient solution and something else needs to be fixed (quality control, contract oversight, too many roads, etc.)
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
The NITA bill raises taxes downstate by zero dollars but you’d never know that based on these debates
October 31, 2025 at 9:10 AM
The NITA bill raises taxes downstate by zero dollars but you’d never know that based on these debates
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
My suburban mayor supports this bill by the way
October 31, 2025 at 8:56 AM
My suburban mayor supports this bill by the way
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
Minutes to go but Senator DeWitte, please read this about why the “super-duper-majority” is a good idea, even for the collars citythatworks.substack.com/p/the-suburb...
The Suburban Case for Transit Reform
Trips don’t end at the city limits, so why do our transit agencies?
citythatworks.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Minutes to go but Senator DeWitte, please read this about why the “super-duper-majority” is a good idea, even for the collars citythatworks.substack.com/p/the-suburb...
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
I wanted to know about this second hypothetical!!
October 31, 2025 at 8:49 AM
I wanted to know about this second hypothetical!!
I'm frozen what's going on?
October 31, 2025 at 8:48 AM
I'm frozen what's going on?
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
Current mood
October 31, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Current mood
Some of my favorite people in the world
SB2111 to fund transit operations is being heard in the Senate..at 3:30am!
October 31, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Some of my favorite people in the world
Reposted by Ben Wolfenstein
SB2111 to fund transit operations is being heard in the Senate..at 3:30am!
October 31, 2025 at 8:29 AM
SB2111 to fund transit operations is being heard in the Senate..at 3:30am!
TO THE BILL -- SENATE EDITION
October 31, 2025 at 8:28 AM
TO THE BILL -- SENATE EDITION