South Side Planning Board was founded in 1946 through the efforts of Michael Reese Hospital, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Mercy Hospital, when the City of Chicago did not even have a planning department. Burnham Park Planning Board began in 1980 and in 1993 the two organizations were merged into the Near South Planning Board.
For over 67 years, Near South Planning Board has been working to improve this area. Our community has been experiencing a period of tremendous growth and development.
New housing, beautification and infrastructure improvements are creating an attractive neighborhood that is bringing in people from all over the city. The variety of housing stock, in all price ranges, assures that we will continue as a diverse and integrated community.
At the Near South Planning Board, we are gratified that our persistence is being rewarded. The Board is constantly involved in numerous issues and concerns, on a variety of levels, that directly or indirectly affect the Near South area. In addition, we sponsor the Authors in the Schools program and we host the Harold Washington Literary Dinner.
As a not-for-profit organization, however, it is a constant battle, not only to do good things for the community, but for ourselves to survive.
Your contribution is important as we continue to promote the neighborhood, monitor and direct growth, interface with the City and the media, and work to eliminate blight.