Alex Nitkin is The Daily Line’s reporter covering Cook County and Chicago land use policy. He came to TDL from The Real Deal Chicago, where he covered Chicago real estate news. He previously worked at DNAinfo, first as a breaking news reporter, and then as a neighborhood reporter covering the city's Northwest Side. Nitkin graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism with a bachelor’s degree.
Bio
Solutions reporter, @IllinoisAnswers/@BetterGov. Formerly of @thedailylinechi, @trdchicago & @DNAinfoChi. Amateur baker. Tips: [email protected]
OCT 21, 2019
A county rulemaking body is set on Monday to send Cook County Commissioners tweaks to the fine print of a controversial housing ordinance, setting the stage for the new law to take effect without a series of concessions that landlord groups proposed.
County rule makers reject changes to 'Just Housing' ordinance asked for by landlords
A county rulemaking body is set on Monday to send Cook County Commissioners tweaks to the fine pr...
OCT 21, 2019
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx raised more than $500,000 between July and September this year, making her the best-funded candidate running in a any countywide race next year, according to third-quarter election filings.
Foxx, McBride, Cabonargi lead fundraising in headline Cook County races
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx raised more than $500,000 between July and September this y...
OCT 17, 2019
Plans call for a 100-unit, all-affordable apartment complex on city-owned land near the Logan Square CTA Blue Line station.
[Bickerdike Development]
The Chicago Plan Commission voted unanimously on Thursday to approve a long-brewing proposal to build an all-affordable 100-unit apartment complex next to the Logan Square Blue Line station, knocking down its first major hurdle in a line of needed city approvals.
The proposal by Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation envisions a seven-story building on the site of a 1.43-acre city-owned parking lot at 2602-38 N. Emmett St. The commission also approved a measure on Thursday to sell the property to the developer for $1.
Logan Square affordable housing proposal wins support from key city panel
Plans call for a 100-unit, all-affordable apartment complex on city-owned land near the Logan Sq...
OCT 17, 2019
Plans call for a 100-unit, all-affordable apartment complex on city-owned land near the Logan Square CTA Blue Line station. [Bickerdike Development]
Plan Commission set to weigh Logan Square affordable housing complex
Plans call for a 100-unit, all-affordable apartment complex on city-owned land near the Logan S...
OCT 16, 2019
Aldermen ended a nearly 10-hour stop-and-start meeting of the City Council Zoning Committee on Tuesday without advancing a plan for how to placing the city’s recreational cannabis dispensaries.
Cannabis rules remain unsettled heading into jam-packed City Council meeting
Aldermen ended a nearly 10-hour stop-and-start meeting of the City Council Zoning Committee on Tu...
OCT 16, 2019
A key City Council committee endorsed Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s pick of Maurice Cox as commissioner of the city’s Department of Planning and Development, lining him up for final approval on Wednesday.
Aldermen approve Cox’s nomination as planning commissioner, but put John Arena on notice
A key City Council committee endorsed Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s pick of Maurice Cox as commissioner ...
OCT 15, 2019
City leaders should permanently allow shared electric scooters in Chicago’s neighborhoods, but only if it’s checked by tight regulations that prevent street clutter and emphasize racial equity, an advocacy group wrote in a report Monday.
As pilot ends, make e-scooters permanent, but keep them out of Downtown: report
City leaders should permanently allow shared electric scooters in Chicago’s neighborhoods, but on...
OCT 15, 2019
The cannabis exclusion zone as proposed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot. [Chicago Mayor's Office]Lightfoot tweaks rules for weed shops Downtown ahead of crucial vote
The cannabis exclusion zone as proposed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot. [Chicago Mayor's Office]Mayor ...
OCT 15, 2019
Aldermen approved a pilot program on Friday aimed at helping people buy and maintain affordable houses in gentrifying neighborhoods on the city’s South, West and Northwest Sides.
Affordable homeownership pilot program advances on 2nd try
Aldermen approved a pilot program on Friday aimed at helping people buy and maintain affordable h...
OCT 11, 2019
Housing officials will announce on Friday that the city committed about $105 million to preserve, improve or create 2,836 units of affordable housing through the first half of 2019, in line with reaching the city’s goal of 5,700 units by the end of the year.
Tweaked homeownership program returns as officials tout progress on affordable housing
Housing officials will announce on Friday that the city committed about $105 million to preserve,...
OCT 11, 2019
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle singled out winding down the county jail’s population and kick-starting development in the South Suburbs as key priorities of the 2020 budget she released on Thursday, but she offered no plan to address the ballooning health care costs that threaten to reverse nearly a decade of shrinking deficits.
Preckwinkle credits ‘hard votes’ for balanced county budget, but more tough choices lie ahead
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle singled out winding down the county jail’s populatio...
OCT 10, 2019
The city’s Department of Innovation and Technology would be folded into the Department of Fleet and Facility Management under a proposal unveiled by Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday.
Lightfoot expects $1M savings from merging Department of Innovation and Technology with Fleet and Facility Management
The city’s Department of Innovation and Technology would be folded into the Department of Fleet a...
OCT 10, 2019
Aldermen on Wednesday advanced a proposal from City Clerk Anna Valencia to extend and widen a pilot program that waives city sticker fees for veterans who have been honorably discharged from the armed services.
Aldermen extend free city sticker pilot for veterans, make Argyle shared street permanent
Aldermen on Wednesday advanced a proposal from City Clerk Anna Valencia to extend and widen a pil...
OCT 10, 2019
Cook County would add 265 employees to its various executive offices while cutting 638 unfilled positions from its health system under the 2020 budget set to be unveiled by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on Thursday.
County budget expands some offices, but Preckwinkle warns of ‘unsustainable’ hospital costs
Cook County would add 265 employees to its various executive offices while cutting 638 unfilled p...
OCT 10, 2019
Maurice Cox. [Submitted]
Lightfoot’s pick for planning commissioner set to face aldermen Thursday
Maurice Cox. [Submitted]
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s pick to lead the Chicago Department of Planning...
OCT 09, 2019
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is expected to unveil a budget this week with no tax hikes or large-scale layoffs, a departure from previous years and a sharp contrast against the unprecedented budget hole faced by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Promising no tax hikes, Preckwinkle angles for no-drama 2020 county budget
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is expected to unveil a budget this week with no tax...
OCT 09, 2019
The Metra Electric and South Shore lines. [Airbus777/Flickr]Metra revs up capital spending wishlist amid ‘unprecedented’ gush of state funding
The Metra Electric and South Shore lines. [Airbus777/Flickr]Metra will use its $1.45 billion sh...
OCT 08, 2019
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi. [A.D. Quit/The Daily Line]
Kaegi’s office hits bumps on road to Shakman compliance, watchdog says
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi. [A.D. Quit/The Daily Line]
The Cook County Assessor’s office ...
OCT 08, 2019
Angela Hurlock greets reporters as she prepares for her confirmation hearing as CHA Board chair. [Alex Nitkin/The Daily Line]Hurlock sails through confirmation hearing to lead CHA board
Angela Hurlock greets reporters as she prepares for her confirmation hearing as CHA Board chair...
OCT 07, 2019
Most homeowners in Chicago’s north and northwest suburbs learned this year that Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s office determined the assessed value of their property spiked during the past year.
But the increases were a fraction of the potential tax hike faced by owners of office, apartment, retail and industrial buildings. And that likely means big changes for the way property taxes are collected while Kaegi is in charge.
But the increases were a fraction of the potential tax hike faced by owners of office, apartment, retail and industrial buildings. And that likely means big changes for the way property taxes are collected while Kaegi is in charge.
North-suburban assessments could mean for break homeowners, ‘straight-up terror’ for commercial owners
Most homeowners in Chicago’s north and northwest suburbs learned this year that Cook County Asses...
Bio
Solutions reporter, @IllinoisAnswers/@BetterGov. Formerly of @thedailylinechi, @trdchicago & @DNAinfoChi. Amateur baker. Tips: [email protected]
