Proposed Development Moratorium Near Chicago's 606 Linear Park Causes Political Spat

"Plans to put a 14-month freeze on residential development along The 606 have been delayed, and the proposed ordinance is headed for changes after Mayor Lori Lightfoot raised concerns about its legality," reports Ryan Ori.

"The proposed ordinance called for a 14-month moratorium on tearing down, constructing or redeveloping residential buildings into single-family homes, in an effort to slow gentrification along the trail," adds Ori.

Mayor Lightfoot forced the co-sponsors of the proposal, Ald. Roberto Maldonado, 26th, and Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th, to back off an aggressive target for approving the moratorium. "They previously told the Tribune they sought for it to be voted into law by the full City Council at its Jan. 15 meeting."

In follow up coverage of the ongoing controversy surrounding the proposed moratorium, Heather Cherone reports that Maldonado and Ramirez-Rosa were working on a series of tweaks to narrow the scope of the ordinance.

The controversy is further complicated by a 2017 article, by Mina Bloom and Cherone, documents Maldonado's previous profits from land speculation near the 606.