Ciere Boatright commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development (DPD) | City of Chicago Website
Ciere Boatright commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development (DPD) | City of Chicago Website
An open house is scheduled for September 25 to present the City of Chicago’s draft “Central Area Plan 2045,” a long-term growth strategy for downtown. The event will take place at the Field Building, 135 S. LaSalle St., in the Loop, and is part of a two-year public engagement process led by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD).
The open house will feature presentation boards, opportunities for public comment, and remarks from city officials and planning partners. Attendees can visit between 5 and 6:30 p.m. to review materials, ask questions, and provide feedback. Light refreshments and live music are planned.
“After more than a dozen community outreach efforts that generated comments and input from more than 10,000 contributors, this is a great opportunity for the public to help finalize the first planning framework for downtown since 2003,” said DPD Commissioner Ciere Boatright.
Materials from the open house will also be available on the Central Area Plan 2045 website.
The plan was initiated in 2023 and included assessments of current conditions, data collection, and several community events to inform strategies through 2045. The draft includes over 250 goals, actions, and projects aimed at areas including the Loop as well as adjacent neighborhoods such as Near North, Near West, and Near South sides.
If adopted by the Chicago Plan Commission later this fall, Central Area Plan 2045 would serve as an official guide for future improvements downtown as well as decisions about public spending and private investment. The development process also referenced previous plans like the “Central Area Action Plan” (2009), “Central City Recovery Roadmap” (2021), and “We Will Chicago” (2023).
The central area covered by the plan is bounded by Division Street on the north; portions of Ogden Avenue, Ashland Avenue, and Halsted Street on the west; Cermak Road/25th Street/I-55 on the south; and Lake Michigan on the east.
More information about registration can be found at https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/CAP2045/home.html.
Alerts Sign-up