“It is hopeless for the occasional visitor to try to keep up with Chicago. She outgrows his prophecies faster than he can make them. She is always a novelty; for she is never the Chicago you saw when you passed through the last time.” —Mark Twain, 1883
Nearly 140 years after Mr. Twain’s words, the resilient City of Big Shoulders continues to write new chapters and reinvent itself. From downtown’s latest class of supertall skyscrapers to the countless infill developments redefining our neighborhoods, Chicago's growth marches on with a steadfast determination.
Keeping up with all the changes to the city’s built environment is a tricky task even for the most weather-hardened locals, but Urbanize Chicago is here to keep you informed on what’s happening and try to make sense of it all.
Our goal is to chronicle the real estate development and urban planning stories that impact our lives, for better or worse. And in doing so, we hope to provide a space for a growing community to share ideas and engage with equally passionate readers.
We’re thrilled to welcome Chicago to the Urbanize network of sites, which launched in Los Angeles in 2015 and grew to become the city’s foremost authority on commercial development and urban planning. Atlanta, Austin, and Detroit recently launched new Urbanize sites (each helmed by fellow Curbed alum) and were followed by New York shortly thereafter.
Urbanize Chicago is just getting started, so please be patient as we spread the word (and work out the inevitable bugs along the way). In the meantime, we’d love to hear from you. Let us know the kind of stories you want to read in the comments below or drop us a line using our tipline.
Feel free to sign up for our newsletter, and don't be shy about giving us a follow on Facebook and Twitter. There's no shortage of news on the horizon so stay tuned.
Thank you for your interest.
Jay Koziarz, Editor, Urbanize Chicago
jay.koziarz@urbanize.city
