Lincoln Park Rezoning: Webster Ave Faces Major Changes

City planners have scheduled a hearing next month on rezoning petitions for the strip along Webster Avenue between Larrabee Street and the North Branch of the Chicago River, an area long treated as a low-density buffer between Lincoln Park and Bucktown.

The vote could arrive as early as September, at a moment when demand for smaller residential parcels near transit has outpaced supply in the core neighborhood. Planners at the Chicago Department of Planning and Development have already circulated draft maps that would allow ground-floor retail and three- to four-story residential buildings on several blocks now limited to single-family homes.

Landmarks that shape daily use

Residents here walk to the Lincoln Park Zoo’s south gate on Webster or cross Fullerton Avenue to reach DePaul University’s campus. The 606 trailhead at Ashland Avenue sits two blocks north, giving cyclists direct access to the Bloomingdale Trail without entering the denser eastern blocks of the neighborhood. Local groups such as the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce have tracked foot traffic along these routes for years.

Property records show most lots still hold two-flats or single-family homes built before 1940. A handful of corner stores on Larrabee remain, but larger parcels sit vacant or underused.

Next steps for buyers and owners

Anyone considering a purchase should review the draft zoning text posted on the city’s website and attend the August hearing at City Hall. Current owners can file comments through the department’s online portal before the record closes in mid-July. Those steps will determine whether the area stays quiet or begins to add new storefronts and apartments by 2028.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.