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Emily Hugan

@changeurbanlife.bsky.social
765 followers 757 following 1K posts

chicago urbanist, mediocre triathlete, and baker substack.com/@brickandwheel

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Emily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 13h
If I were mayor I'd apply some batshit policy that would require me to look my policy aids in the eye and say Trust
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Wes Marshall @wesmars.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
In honor of #BannedBooksWeek, I'm happy to report that many state DOTs have refused to add my book to their own libraries (and happier to report that many of the same state DOTs have held secret book clubs with my book)
Cover of Killed by a Traffic Engineer with a BANNED stamp over it
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helen (she/her) @helenl.bsky.social · 23h
When people campaign on “affordable housing only” they’re usually just saying build nothing & hope new older cheaper buildings magically appear or maybe gov’ts just come in and pay for whole new buildings (which is not how gov’t programs work, btw)
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Chicago 🏳️‍⚧️🌱 @chicagotrans-plant.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
If your girls are always late, arrive in a pack of 3 or more, and then take you to the bar, that's not your polycule, that's the 22 Clark
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cta @chicagocta.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
follow us for more relationship advice 👍
If your girl...
-Travels all over the city with you
-picks you up
-opens the door for you
That's not your girl
that's a bus
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Emily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Sorry Oak Park, but you're not gonna beat the Oakdale Greenway invisible Speed Bumps. You aren't advanced enough in science
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Chicago 2100 Urbanism @chicago2100.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
CTA's Chief Planning Officer on Bus Lanes: 'What I would say bold is let’s set an aggressive …100-150 miles of dedicated bus lanes in the region' The plan below has 200 miles 👀
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Mr. Dan Kelly @mrdankelly.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
155 years since a brilliant Irish cow decided Chicago needed to be razed, replanned, and rebuilt. And that cow's name...was Daniel Burnham.
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Emily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Automatic enforcement means less dangerous interactions between police and civilians - this is a win
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Emily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Guys I don't understand the huge news of the pedestrian beacon like isn't that every other type of light in every other city.
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Emily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Found out that Sierra Club sued the US-95 expansion in Las Vegas bc of health impacts to elementary schools. They dropped the suit when they agreed to make the kids in the schools guinea pigs to research affects of highway emissions and HVAC filtering.
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David Teeghman 🇵🇸 🌏🚴🏻🌹 @teeghman.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
@sierraclubchicago.bsky.social is proud to support Shape Oak Park and housing density near transit for a few simple reasons: More 🏢 = more 🚴🏼‍♂️🚶🏽‍♀️🚌 More 🏢 = less 💨🔥 More 🏢 = more 🌳🌲🌻 More 🏢 = more 👵🏼👨🏻👩🏽👶🏼👩🏻👴🏻🧒🏾 More 🏢 = a better 🌎 Read our full statement here: www.sierraclub.org/illinois/chi...
sierraclub.org
Sierra Club Chicago Statement of Support for Shape Oak Park
The Chicago Group sent the following statement to the Village Board of Oak Park on Sept. 30, 2026.
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Brandon @bedubble.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
A NIMBY haunted house but it’s just the October Meet me on Milwaukee
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Sierra Club Chicago @sierraclubchicago.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
1. Build UP, not OUT Reducing suburban sprawl by adding gentle housing density protects natural areas and reduces carbon emissions from vehicles
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Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
This is 100% true, and while it does lead to some uncomfortable conversations, the smarter talking point is that even if the revealed preference rate comes out to be 60% or whatever, we’re building maybe 80-90% of our housing stock this way
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Chicagoans Who Bike @chiwho.bike · 06/10/2026
“There needs to be a change there too. We need to demand this not only in Chicago, but everywhere. We need to have these options and the freedom to choose our mode of transportation.”
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Emily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
If you ask yourself, "Why can't xyz have a Mamdani", then that means they don't have one!
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Dread and Rosie @rosiemund.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
If you think "but how am I supposed to do this without a car?" you should ask yourself "how do people in similar circumstances but without access to a car do this & what does it mean for them if the answer is that they can't?" Because for someone else that's not a hypothetical question.
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Emily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
I can only dream to have an ounce of his aura
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Emily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Quite literally just expand it to State St.
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Meg @prayingmantis.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
So, since there is clearly a demand for it, other neighborhoods should also have fall festivals, so that this one will be less crowded. Speaking as someone who lives a literal stone's throw from this one.
blockclubchicago.org
Did Social Media Ruin Apple Fest? With Long Lines And Large Crowds, Some Believe So
Chicago's premier fall-themed street festival saw huge crowds, with some attendees saying the social media hype dampened some of the long-running event's charm.
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Lakeshore Drive Slut @shredded-teat.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
proposal: i'm the only one allowed to go to applefest
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Michael McLean @michaelmclean.me · 03/10/2026
I would love for Chicago to have a preapproved design for a six / eight flat like this one in my neighborhood. Make it legal everywhere.
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Emily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The invisible speed bumps on Oakdale greenway are an amazing scientific breakthrough
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Lakeshore Drive Slut @shredded-teat.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
just called brandon johnson and he confirmed they're banning cars next week
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Chicago 🏳️‍⚧️🌱 @chicagotrans-plant.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Somebody on Instagram made content designed specially for me
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Emily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I just think a Mamdani-like campaign event would be sitting on the LFT, nearing dusk, handing out free bike lights to all the bikers without one.
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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
New study estimates the time durations of permitting and development for standardized new housing projects across 60 U.S. cities from 2000 to 2025. Time durations are increasing, which raises housing costs and reduces availability. www.vox.com/future-perfe...
vox.com
The astonishing gap between America’s fastest- and slowest-building cities
It shouldn’t take five years to build an apartment building.
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Emily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Saw a comment on research why people aren't hosting friends for dinner anymore vs the 1970s. The commentator said the researcher should consider how people can't afford larger houses that have a dining room.
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Alex @acannon.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
DPD is soliciting proposals for Courtyard Apartment Buildings at three large-lot sites in Bronzeville. These projects will be used to inform planning for a new zoning overlay district aimed at allowing for new by-right courtyard buildings. www.chicago.gov/city/en/site...
Request for Proposals
Courtyard Buildings
Chicago DPDRM-5 Example Development ScenarioOne of the RFP lots on 4200 S Indiana Ave. Approx 100' x 160'XAMPLE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS | RM-5
For specific requirements please refer to the Chicago Zoning Code Section 17-2-0300 Bulk & Density Standards
125’
15’ 37.5’
5’ 5’
U-Shape Courtyard
Example Site Area: 12,500 ft2
By-Right Building Footprint: 6,525 ft2 (52%)
Historic Courtyard Footprint: 7,500 ft2 (60%)
Recommended Courtyard Footprint: 6,520 ft2 (52%)
L-Shape Courtyard
Example Infill Site Area: 9,375 ft2
By-Right Building Footprint: 4,895 ft2 (52%)
Historic “L” Footprint: 5,600 ft2 (60%)
Recommended “L” Footprint: 4,300 ft2 (46%)
Corner Site L-Shape
Example Corner Site Area: 9,375 ft2
By-Right Building Footprint” 4,895 ft2 (52%)
Historic “L” Footprint: 5,950 ft2 (63%)
Recommended “L” Footprint: 4,500 ft2 (48%)
75’ 75’
15’ 37.5’
3.75’ 3.75’
26’
minimum
37.5’
3.75’ 3.75’
15’
EGRESS & ACCESSIBILITY
Current requirements for a secondary means of egress can be met with an exterior metal stair up to
45’ (see Chicago Building Code section 1027.2). This mirrors the strategy used for historic courtyard
buildings, allowing all units to have exterior light and air exposure on at least two sides. Exterior metal
stairs are also commonly used for modern three- and six-flat buildings.
Beyond 45’ a second egress stair and corridor must be enclosed. DPD’s analysis has concluded that
enclosing a second egress path would defeat the purpose of the courtyard model by effectively limiting
half the units to a single exterior exposure, like an internalized double-loaded corridor building. For this
reason, DPD recommends limiting the building height to 45’ to maintain the courtyard model with an
exterior secondary egress path. Duplex units with an additional floor only accessible from within each
unit may provide more design flexibility.
The City is interested in reviving the courtyard building typology in part to facilitate a more cost-
effective multi-family housing alternative to standard mid-rise corridor
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Municipal Corporation @nikhunder.com · 29/09/2026
Got back from Montreal this week and have had to experience Chicago transport again. Please give me grace in this difficult time
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A City That Works @acitythatworks.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
A string of upzonings on the South Side are a breath of fresh air for housing development in Chicago with immense credit going to Aldermen Desmond Yancy (5th) and Ronnie Mosley (21st) for their work in this process. citythatworks.substack.com/p/a-better-p...
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Michael McLean @michaelmclean.me · 30/09/2026
And now its public! www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
cbsnews.com
Chicago to install dedicated bus lane on northbound Michigan Avenue downtown
Seeking to reduce delays for CTA riders in downtown Chicago, officials plan to install a new dedicated bus lane on Michigan Avenue.
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starch mogul @posts-cards.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
southsideweekly.com/a-slow-and-s...
southsideweekly.com
A Slow and Steady Disaster
Schools, Jobs, and Safety: Why Black Folks Are Leaving Chicago
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Michael McLean @michaelmclean.me · 28/09/2026
Alderman La Spata is pro-business
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Emily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Blows my mind when neighbors complain about a new development bc they can't find street parking - they ask for them to build more parking. Why don't they have their own parking?? Why is it other people's problem when they don't have parking?
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Emily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Honestly I think the concept of private development and public procurement is ideal. That's how we got the CTA so might as well just let it happen.
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Chicago White Sox @notwhitesox.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
"The Tamale Guy" delivered tonight's game ball in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Night!
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Alder Andre Vasquez, Political Account @andrefor40th.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Today, I, along with @daniellaspata.bsky.social and an overwhelming number of our colleagues, introduced the expansion of the Smart Streets pilot! When this passes, the map with be citywide, and it will be an ongoing program, not a pilot! We will also partner with the Mayor’s office to budget it out
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Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 23/09/2026
The "bike bus" idea is simple: Once a week, a group of kids and parents bike to school together. It's an idea being embraced in neighborhoods around Chicago as a way to socialize and push back against car-centric culture, parents say.
chicago.suntimes.com
Instead of driving to school, more kids are taking the 'bike bus'
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Emily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
blockclubchicago.org/2026/09/22/3...
blockclubchicago.org
30 Affordable Apartments For People With Disabilities Proposed For Lincoln Park
The project would replace Over the Rainbow Association’s existing building with a five-story building designed for residents with physical disabilities.
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Thomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
“Ensuring all buses, in service and not in service alike, have a reliably smooth and fast trip on DLSD has massive ripple benefits for the entire network, unlocking faster, more efficient, and more reliable operations for buses throughout the city.” citythatworks.substack.com/p/view-from-...
citythatworks.substack.com
View from the wheel: Dedicated bus lanes on Lake Shore Drive matter more than you think
Bus networks do not survive on in-service routes alone
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are you not infotained @alopex-ii.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
A real transit advocate would call in from the antisocial behavior cockpit at the end of a train car
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Lena G R @lenagr.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Back to school has been good for ridership! Booming since kids went back. Weekend is at 100% and bus is 95% of prepandemic levels. Frequent bus network is kicking ass in improving ridership
Powerpoint slide says ridership has been building through the summer. The three highest ridership days since covid have been just this August of 2026, on the 26th, 27th & 28th.Powerpoint slide says weekday ridership regularly exceeds 1.2 million rides. Green chart on the left shows ridership is still highest monday through friday, but in terms of recovering from covid weekends are in 90s to 100%Powerpoint slide says frequent bus network ridership is following service investments. Over the past two years, the frequent bus network routes have seen a 21% increase in ridership, while non frequent buses have only increased 11%Powerpoint slide says red-purple modernization project supporting ridership growth. The stations in the RPM project area added 1.1 million additional net rides during the 12 months following the station reopenings. These stations combined were worth about 1 out 5 all added rail rides in July 2026. Stations showed 26% growth YOY compared to 6% rail system overall.
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stevie. @steviemoraa.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
“if you are not from here, you don’t belong here. you’re the reason i can’t find affordable housing. go back to where you came from.” when republicans say this stuff we call them xenophobic bigots, but increasingly i’m seeing this stuff from people in major cities and i find it a little alarming!
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Gremliny Nussboo @emilynussbaum.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I truly don’t understand this “transplant” nonsense. The whole THING about NYC is that ppl come here from other places to mutate into New Yorkers! TO SEE IF THEY CAN BE KING OF THE HILL, TOP OF THE HEAP! Imho a rando who moved here a year ago is the MOST NY person. Welcome Ohio rando, have a bagel
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Momentum Magazine @momentummag.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Paris cycling numbers double in one year thanks to massive investment and it’s not stopping. momentummag.com/paris-cyclin...
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Brandon @bedubble.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
They need a real housewifes of inner lake shore drive
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Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
NEW: Drivers who blocked bicycle and bus lanes have racked up nearly $4.5 million in fines since November 2024, when an effort to use automated cameras to make streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians launched downtown, according to city data unveiled Tuesday. @wttw.bsky.social
news.wttw.com
Chicago Drivers Caught on Camera Blocking Bus, Bicycle Lanes Hit With $4.5M in Fines: Data
In all, the city has banked $2.6 million in revenue from the tickets, records show.
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Emily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
PhD? You mean Pretty Happy Day! Bf moved in and increased % of bikes in household by 100%
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