The housing stock in Alderman Marty Quinn's 13th Ward is 95% single family homes, Quinn says his ward is already overpopulated.
"We do have developers buying up homes and you could take a single-family home and make it a three flat overnight without any community input, that becomes incredibly problematic," Quinn said.
He said the 13th Ward is busting at the seams, he delayed a proposed ordinance introduced by 44th Ward Ald. Bennett Lawson that allows additional dwelling units, known as ADU's "granny flats" in all Chicago neighborhoods.
"It is about adding supply, and the more supply we add, the more we can help stabilize what are skyrocketing rents right now," Lawson said.
For over two years, Lawson has worked on trying get the ordinance passed, finally, a compromise was reached that most of city council supports.
The compromise is to allow each alder to "opt-in" to the program.
"That piece gives alders more control, or a city of 77 separate neighborhoods, so not having the one size fits all, I think works very well," Quinn said.
The other piece backed by Quinn and unions is a requirement for contractors to build new coach houses to be part of an apprentice program.
In an effort to build more affordable housing, the ability to build coach houses or add units to garages, attics, basements or some commercial properties is an ordinance strongly supported by Mayor Brandon Johnson.
"I'm grateful these conversations are moving forward, and we are not getting jammed up of one individual's particular perspective, it's about entire collective as a city," Johnson said.
A city council vote will be called on Thursday.
Alders Lawson and Quinn are hoping to get all 50 alders behind it; they say the ordinance is a good example of how compromise can work at city hall.