Chicago City Wire

The Chicago City Council has approved amendments to the City Lots for Working Families (CL4WF) Program, aiming to update and modernize the initiative that was first established in 2017. The program has enabled affordable home construction by selling city-owned lots to developers, but there have been inconsistencies between the number of lots approved and the homes actually built.

The newly passed ordinance seeks to address these issues by adjusting program thresholds for inflation and refining eligibility requirements. Under the updated guidelines, eligible housing types will now include three- and four-unit homes as well as condominiums across the city—expanding from a previous restriction to Woodlawn only—and allowing co-operative housing models.

Income limits for buyers will increase from 140% to 150% of Area Median Income (AMI), broadening access for more households. The required mix of affordable versus market-rate units will shift from a 75/25 split to an even 50/50 distribution. Additionally, annual or bi-annual adjustments for inflation or deflation will be implemented, replacing the previous lack of such provisions.

Long-term affordability options are also expanded. In addition to permitting homes in the Chicago Housing Trust or CCLT, community land trusts and co-operatives are now allowed.

The Department of Housing has requested authority to amend existing CL4WF Redevelopment Agreements so they can reflect these new updates. These changes would be subject to approval by both the DOH Commissioner and the Department of Law.