Stakeholder listening
Interviews become a published findings memo before options are drawn.
Urban planning · Chicago
Streets with data and neighbors in the loop.
Gridline Civic helps cities test zoning ideas, transit corridors, and public realm upgrades with maps, models, and workshop boards residents can actually read.
District plan · live
Updated after last night's council workshop
Planning neighbors can weigh in on
We translate zoning codes into block models, shadow studies, and plain-language trade-offs.
Side-by-side massing
Height and setback scenarios are tested against wind, shadow, and view corridors.
Transit counts matter
Boardings, headways, and first/last mile links shape curb and station recommendations.
Policy drafts you can adopt
Implementation timelines name responsible agencies and funding sources.
Equity metrics baked in
Affordable unit counts and displacement risk are tracked per scenario.
Climate overlays
Heat island, floodplain, and tree canopy layers inform open space requirements.
District typology matrix
Compare zoning scenarios tested for a mixed-use corridor—sort by height, FAR, or affordability.
| Main street mixed | Active ground | 85 ft | 4 | 15 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courtyard housing | Setback | 55 ft | 3 | 20 | 28 |
| Transit corridor | Podium + tower | 120 ft | 4 | 18 | 8 |
| Industrial edge | Deep lot | 65 ft | 2 | 10 | 20 |
| Historic loft | Masonry repair | 70 ft | 3 | 12 | 6 |
Recent outcomes
- Corridor plans adopted
- 9
- Workshop participants
- 2,400+
- Avg. affordable share in pilots
- 31%
- Agency partners
- 18
Corridor plan milestones
Typical eighteen-month engagement from listening to council adoption.
- Month 18
Council adoption
Zoning map amendment and design guidelines passed with implementation funding.
- Month 12
Draft plan release
Public comment period with translated summaries and open house stations.
- Month 6
Scenario shortlist
Three massing options published with equity and fiscal impact memos.
- Month 1
Listening tour
Stakeholder interviews and transit counts published as a findings report.
City partner notes
“Residents compared height options on one table instead of arguing from memory.”
“Our transit agency signed off because headways and curb lanes were drawn to scale.”
“Council finally received an implementation timeline they could fund line by line.”
Planning FAQ
Do you run public workshops?
Yes—in multiple languages with childcare and evening sessions when needed.
Can you work with our GIS team?
We export shapefiles and dashboards that plug into your existing viewers.
How do you handle opposition?
We document concerns, publish responses, and adjust scenarios with clear trade-offs.
What deliverables do we own?
Models, policy memos, graphics, and implementation playbooks at each milestone.
Do you support environmental review?
We coordinate with CEQA/NEPA consultants and supply graphics for filings.
Can you help fund implementation?
We identify grants, TIF tools, and phasing that match adopted policies.
Tell us about your district
Share boundaries, adopted plans, and political timeline—we reply with a charrette outline.
Need a workshop before council meets?
We can facilitate a two-evening charrette with live scenario modeling in three weeks.