McKinley Park Neighborhood Plan

McKinley Park’s proximity to the Loop and strong access to public transportation makes it a desirable place to live and work. An abundance of beautiful historical buildings present a great opportunity for development in the neighborhood. For example, Marz Community Brewing Co. in McKinley Park resides along an offshoot of the Chicago River, which has the potential to host a variety of water activities including kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. A formal business entity should be formed to serve as a resource, advocate, and convener for existing local businesses, while simultaneously working to attract new diverse businesses to industrial districts and the vacant storefronts along major commercial corridors. Increase the capacity of MPDC to support local economic development initiatives (Please see Recommendations 3.4 and 3.5 for detailed strategies).

Get expert advice on economic development

As local aldermen explore how to grow local employment opportunities in the industrial and advanced manufacturing sectors within their designated wards in McKinley Park, the plan recommends seeking advice from local economic development organizations that can provide insight and feedback to proposed developments. The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) spearheads several economic development initiatives, which include a wide spectrum of financial assistance programs, business development efforts, and related quality-of-life endeavors for local neighborhoods. DPD also provides funding to delegate agencies whose objectives include small business development, site development or area-wide marketing, maintenance and management within a specified commercial business district. Other resources include the Nathalie P. Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Chicago, and the Chicago Community Loan Fund.

Set up neighborhood tours to promote assets to prospective developers and businesses

From "Development Council Tours Razzmatazz, Shares Program and Community Updates," published March 22, 2018, in the McKinley Park News.In an effort to market business and development opportunities in McKinley Park, MPDC should organize tours of the neighborhood that showcase local assets and potential. Tours can be designed to highlight some or all of McKinley Park’s many assets, including its transit-rich areas, natural amenities, local services, and properties available for purchase. Promotional videos and an online and social media presence could also showcase McKinley Park’s assets to the business community.