2025 Candidate Forum

As many as 76 others attended the forum via Zoom and it was recorded. Because of technical difficulties, the audio file begins at question #3 about affordable housing. 

Here are the questions that were asked:

(Not recorded) What, if anything, would you recommend the Village of Oak Park change about how residents are notified about, and involved in, decisions about developments in their neighborhoods?

(Not recorded) Hundreds of new luxury apartment units have been built in Oak Park as Planned Unit Developments, or PUDs, in the past decade. They add residents, shoppers and taxpayers. But they also add more congestion in some neighborhoods, substantially alter their surroundings, and add new demands for village services. Developers of these PUD projects typically seek relief from zoning rules regarding height, setbacks, and parking. Do you support more of these larger luxury developments? Why or why not—and what, if any, changes to the PUD process do you want?

00:00 Many Oak Parkers are concerned about the lack of affordable housing in the village. Please describe at least two ways that Village Board action can add affordable housing units to OP, and/or protect and preserve existing “more affordable” housing options in both our vintage apartment buildings and more modest single-family homes.

17:09 Oak Park’s unique and strong architectural character has been one of its strengths, and even part of its marketing brand you might say that sets it apart from many metro Chicago communities, attracting both new residents and economic development in the form of tourist spending and positive public relations. I think we have more architects per capita than many communities. So do you support the current Oak Park historic preservation ordinance, why or why not, and what changes if any would you like to see how we protect and enhance our historic neighborhoods.

33:24 The current village board has had some recent discussions about the missing middle. And I know there's different ways of thinking about this middle, but one of the concepts is to add more smaller multifamily buildings in single family zoning districts. Think two flats, four flats, six flats, eight flats, that kind of thing. This will require zoning changes. Do you support or oppose the general concept? Why or why not?

47:43 Travel Lemming recently named Oak Park as one of the 50 best places to travel in the world in 2025, includes large places like Warsaw, Brisbane, Tokyo, one of only 11 in the United States. That's not uncommon for Oak Park to be recognized for being a place to visit or something fantastic about our community. Architecture, community character, cultural offerings, sometimes diversity-related sort of commendations we received. What economic developments—specific projects or types—might tie into and somehow build that appreciation or build on that appreciation of architectural heritage, streetscapes, diversity, walkable community character?

1:00:41 What's your favorite place or a couple of places that you bring visitors when they come to visit you or where you would like to recommend?