Kane County Participates in Regional Discussion on the Future of Housing
Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog joined regional leaders in Aurora for a discussion on the future of housing in northeastern Illinois as part of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning's (CMAP) Catalyst Series, an initiative supporting development of The Century Plan.
The discussion brought together representatives from government, business and civic organizations to explore how demographic changes are influencing housing needs and what communities can do to prepare for the future.
Among the topics discussed were the region's aging population, smaller household sizes and changing family structures. These trends are creating demand for a wider range of housing options, including accessible homes for older adults, smaller residences and multigenerational housing.
Participants also discussed the connection between housing availability and regional economic growth. Attracting new residents to northeastern Illinois is important to the region's continued growth, but a lack of diverse housing options could make it more difficult to accommodate that growth.
The discussion highlighted the region's existing housing variety, including bungalows, duplexes and smaller multifamily buildings, as examples of housing types that could help address future needs. Expanding housing choices may require communities to reconsider regulations that limit the development of these types of homes.
CMAP recently released a Plan Preview outlining issues and opportunities related to the future of housing in northeastern Illinois. The agency also offers free Community Data Snapshots, including a housing data dashboard, to help communities better understand local housing conditions and plan for future needs.
Learn more about the plan at cmap.is/plan-preview and explore CMAP's Community Data Snapshots.
