Cabrini NOW

Cabrini NOW is a community-driven planning and design effort to improve the Cabrini neighborhood through new housing and economic development on CHA properties. This plan will guide what gets built and how investments are made in the area. Cabrini NOW is all about making sure your voice is heard! We want to hear from everyone in Cabrini to create a plan that truly reflects what the community wants and needs.

This initiative will:

Update and build on the existing 2015 community plans and vision in a changing neighborhood context.
Respond to the current and future affordable housing needs of the neighborhood and Chicago.
Embrace all voices in the neighborhood and co-create a shared vision for Cabrini’s future.

We want to hear from YOU! We’ll be hosting a series of workshops, surveys, and listening sessions throughout the process.

To share your ideas and to sign-up for updates, please email cabrininow@thecha.org

Community Event #3 — Draft Plan Presentation and Community Conversation (December 11, 2024)

On December 11, CHA hosted a Draft Plan Presentation and Community Conversation for Cabrini NOW. This event was the third and final community meeting planned for the Cabrini NOW process. More opportunities for community input on the future of CHA development in Cabrini will follow – please sign-up for updates by emailing cabrininow@thecha.org.

Check out the presentation recording and materials below to learn more about the draft redevelopment plan!

We deeply appreciate about 120 Cabrini community members, including more than 20 CHA residents, joining us on December 11. The draft plan we presented was developed based on input we’ve received across the Cabrini NOW process throughout 2024, including community meetings on May 8 and July 31, about 30 stakeholder meetings and engagement, written input we’ve received so far, and prior planning work in the area.

We are processing the feedback we received at the event before integrating it into a full draft plan report to be released in early 2025. The full draft plan will incorporate the feedback we received at the December 11 event and will include engagement summaries, demographic and market context analysis, development framework, phasing plan, and financial feasibility analysis.

Our next steps are to:

Publish a draft plan in early 2025 with an opportunity for more public comment before a final plan is published.
Begin applying for zoning changes and releasing site-specific solicitations for development partners on the first sites throughout 2025. Development partners will be recommended by CHA and the Near North Working Group, and need CHA Board approval.
Continue reaching out to you as we move forward with site specific development plans!

Please see the video above and the materials linked below to see what was presented at the event. We will accept public comments on the materials presented at the December 11 event until January 8, 2025. To sign up for updates and provide input, please email cabrininow@thecha.org.

Community Event #2 — Ice Cream Social and Community Conversation (July 31, 2024)

Did you miss the July 31st Cabrini NOW Ice Cream Social and Community Conversation? Check out the presentation recording below and learn more about the first draft planning and design strategies we discussed with around 120 community members.

We are very thankful that about 120 community members, including over 30 CHA residents, attended the Cabrini NOW Ice Cream Social and Community Conversation on July 31!

After getting input from community members on their desires and priorities for the Cabrini area at our kickoff celebration on May 8, we created our first draft planning and design strategies for how to redevelop CHA-owned sites in the area. At our July 31 event, we shared those first drafts with community members and are starting to analyze the input we received.

Our next step is to refine the draft concepts towards a more finalized draft redevelopment plan based on the community’s input and feedback from City of Chicago departments and City agencies. We hope that you will be able to join us at the next community event, likely in a couple months from July 31, which will be focused on getting community feedback on that next draft before we share a finalized plan.

To see what was presented at the July 31 community event, please see the video posted above and visit the links provided below.

Community Event #1 — Kickoff Celebration (May 8, 2024)

On May 8, approximately 100 community members, including over 30 CHA residents, convened to discuss and provide input on future developments in the area. The project team is set to summarize this valuable feedback and share it with both attendees and the broader public. The insights gathered will guide the creation of revised plans and designs, encompassing new housing, enhanced green spaces, improved transportation, and additional community investments. These draft plans will be presented at upcoming community meetings to gather further feedback and refine the proposals.