Elevated Chicago

In May 2024, Juan Sebastian Arias started his current position as executive director of Elevated Chicago, an organization that helps encourage equitable transit-oriented development. Here's an interview with him from back then by Streetsblog Chicago's John Greenfield.

The talk featured representatives from Elevated Chicago, the CTA, the Department of Planning and Development, People for Community Recovery, and the Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce.

Recently announced as executive director Juan Sebastian Arias also shared his POV on Mayor Johnson's Cut the Tape initiative to speed up the development approval process

The reports also finds that redevelopment of this land is more likely to bring about positive change when community members are heavily involved.

Streetsblog Chicago is interviewing local Latine transportation leaders in an effort to recognize the diversity, contributions and the presence of people who have helped and continue to shape transportation in Chicago. In April, I interviewed Leslé Honoré, an artist, poet, writer, and transportation advocate. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Urban Gateways, an organization that engages and provides young people with arts programming. Leslé was also recently named the Co-Chair for Mayor Elect Brandon Johnson’s Arts and Culture subcommittee. 

This initiative, bankrolled by the Chicago Recovery Plan, will help encourage community-driven development near train stations and high-frequency bus corridors.   

The Lori Lightfoot administration hopes to spur the development of more affordable, parking-lite housing near transit with the proposed "Connected Communities Ordinance."

"Transformational ideas may be controversial, but that is not an excuse to avoid them," the letter states. "We need serious and specific proposals to maintain the foundational roles transit plays."