Politics
Wicker Park Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Revision Sets New Affordability Thresholds for Developments
The updated city rules will require 15 percent of units in qualifying new residential buildings along Milwaukee Avenue and Damen Avenue to rent or sell below market rates starting in late 2026.
How we reported this
The Chicago City Council approved revisions to the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance on July 7 that apply directly to new multi-unit residential projects in Wicker Park. The changes raise the required share of income-restricted units from 10 percent to 15 percent for buildings with 10 or more units, with income limits tied to 60 percent of area median income.
City records show Wicker Park received 12 new residential permit applications in 2025, most clustered near the intersection of North and Milwaukee avenues. The ordinance update takes effect for projects permitted after September 1, 2026, and applies to both rental and for-sale developments within the existing Wicker Park Tax Increment Financing district boundaries.
Effects on local housing access
Households earning under $52,000 annually will gain priority access to the new restricted units through the city's existing lottery system managed by the Department of Housing. Current market rents for a one-bedroom apartment near the Blue Line station average $2,100, according to 2025 rental data compiled by the Cook County Assessor's Office. The added units are projected to reduce wait times for local applicants by an estimated 18 months once buildings reach completion.
Property owners planning small-scale additions or conversions on side streets such as Hoyne and Winchester will face the same percentage requirement if their projects exceed the 10-unit threshold. The legislation states that developers may satisfy part of the obligation through cash payments to the city's Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund when on-site units prove infeasible.
Next steps for implementation
The Department of Planning and Development will release updated application forms and income verification guidelines by August 15. Developers with active projects have until December 31 to request grandfathering under the prior 10 percent standard. The city projects the revised rules will produce 140 additional restricted units inside Wicker Park over the subsequent five budget cycles.