New Ordinance Encourages More Urban Farming
September 28, 2011 by Matt Baker · Leave a Comment
By Jon Sedey
A new zoning code, approved at the last council meeting, will promote the expansion of community gardening and urban agriculture within the city boundaries.
The amendment, first introduced by Mayor Rahm Emanuel in July, recognizes urban farming and allows citizens or companies to apply for building permits and zoning approvals to help establish foundations in the urban agriculture sector. The ordinance legalizes urban farming of vegetables, fruits and fish and will permit owners to sell what they raise.
Read more
Chicago River Improvements Include New Boathouses, Pollution Controls
September 21, 2011 by Matt Baker · Leave a Comment
Click to enlarge.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced on Monday a plan to enhance the Chicago River’s recreational appeal. The future development would be grounded by four new boathouses, several new boat launches, expansion of riverfront trails and pollution controls of the famed waterway.
Read more
Green Building Goes Back to School
September 14, 2011 by Matt Baker · Leave a Comment
By Matt Baker
Federico Garcia Lorca Elementary, which opened in the Avondale neighborhood last year, features a vegetated roof over half of the school.
Read more
Local Wholesale Produce Distributor Aims to Reinvent LEED Standards
September 14, 2011 by Matt Baker · Leave a Comment
By Jon Sedey
Situated in the Back of the Yards Neighborhood in Chicago’s Stockyards Corridor sits what many hope to be the pioneer in the food service distribution sector. Testa Produce, Inc., an independent wholesale produce distributor, opened its doors to their new, 91,000 square foot, $23 million facility.
On track to become the nation’s first LEED Platinum food distribution facility, everything from the parking lot to the food refrigeration system is a result of President and owner Peter Testa’s vision. “Part of being in the agricultural business is to have a responsibility to take care of the earth a bit better,” said Testa.
Read more
Where are All the Green Jobs?
September 14, 2011 by Matt Baker · Leave a Comment
By Matt Baker
In the last decade, green jobs have been viewed as a panacea for this country’s ails. They have the power not only to curb climate change and shrink the amount of foreign fuel imported into the United States, but to create jobs that might not otherwise exist. And of course, all of these benefits are also the first lines of defense for national security.
Read more
Emanuel Looks to Clean Up Chicago Recycling
September 14, 2011 by Matt Baker · Leave a Comment
By Susanna Weatherford
The City Council adopts the goal of making regular recycling service available by July 1, 1993, to 100 percent of the households in low-density dwellings served by the City of Chicago.
So begins the section of the Chicago Municipal Code regarding regular recycling service. To put that in perspective, Chicago Bulls fans were wearing out the word “threepeat” in July of 1993, the Unabomber was still on the loose and David Letterman was preparing his switch from NBC to CBS.
Read more
Nonprofit Lender Supports Energy-Efficiency
September 14, 2011 by Matt Baker · Leave a Comment
By Jon Sedey
Formerly known as Illinois Facilities Fund, IFF is a nonprofit lender and real estate consultant dedicated to improving other like-minded nonprofits and the communities that they serve. IFF is committed to the belief that the nonprofit sector is extremely influential in terms of changing our current society. “We only lend to nonprofits, so our whole business is understanding everything about them, their operating structure, governance structure and how financing helps or hurts them,” said IFF CEO Joe Neri.
Read more
