As diverse as the restaurants in Uptown and Edgewater, so are the people who live in the far 46th, 47th and 48th wards. Broadway connects all three.
"Between Devon and Montrose, there's a mishmash of different zoning, about 20 different, so it's a patchwork," said 48th Ward Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth.
And between Foster and Devon, the zoning is only for two-story buildings. Manaa-Hoppenworth, along with Alds. Angela Clay and Matt Martin, strongly support a city plan that makes zoning consistent along the entire corridor and "up zones" Broadway, allowing for taller and denser development.
"We're hoping to see is more mixed-use, and we want to see small businesses on the first floor and housing built on top and the parking in the back," Hoppenworth said.
Proponents say one of the goals of the zoning change is to create more affordable housing units. Hoppenworth says her ward has lost population because some residents cannot afford to stay with rising rents. The area has become highly desirable because it is close to the lake and has brand new CTA Red Line stations.
"I want to make sure that someone like me, who left California because of skyrocketing house prices, can afford to stay in Chicago and call this place home," said Uptown resident Noah Ayoub.
Ayoub fears if more affordable units are not built, Chicago will become unaffordable, like his former home state. He attended Tuesday's Zoning Committee meeting, as did dozens of residents who are against the plan, wearing yellow bandanas. Some were kicked out for disrupting the meeting.
"I think supporters are delusional in thinking that this is going to create additional affordable housing. It's just not ever proven to be the case. If everyone thinks that density leads to affordability, then why is Manhattan the most expensive place in America to live?" said Edgewater resident John Holden.
In addition, opponents say most of Broadway's thriving small businesses are in older buildings, which opponents say are more affordable than brand new commercial spaces.
The Broadway plan will go before the full city council on Thursday. It is expected to pass. Hoppenworth says the next step will be to engage the community on exactly what they want before developers come in.