Far South CDC Seeking Community Input For South Halsted Corridor Plan

Morgan Park Commons. Rendering by Lamar Johnson Collaborative.
Morgan Park Commons. Rendering by Lamar Johnson Collaborative.

Far South CDC Seeking Community Input For South Halsted Corridor Plan

By Tia Carol Jones

The Far South Community Development Corporation (CDC) is developing the South Halsted Corridor Plan with the goal to guide economic development, transportation and housing on South Halsted, between 95th Street and 123rd Street. A community workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15th, at Far South Community Development Corporation, located at 835 W. 115th St.

Katanya Raby, Vice President of Planning for the  Far South CDC, said the six-month long project is dedicated to engaging community members and community partners between now and January 2026. She said the intent of the land use plan is to build a shared community-driven vision and also develop implementation strategies for the corridor.

“That fits into Far South’s mission because Far South is an organization that provides strategic community building services,” Raby said.

Part of the strategic community building services that Far South does includes being a planning agency for the area, focusing on equitable development and planning. The Far South also works with businesses to provide assistance and residential support. Raby said the South Halsted Corridor Plan speaks to those areas and services that the organization provides within the community.

There is already a community advisory group for the plan and there has been a series of focus group meetings, where the organization has heard from local business owners and transit-oriented development professionals, institutional leaders and developers in the area. Raby said now the intent is to ensure the voices of the people who live in the community are heard and they are able to participate in the process through the community workshop on Nov. 15th.

During the community workshop, community residents will have the opportunity to share their feedback through a variety of activities. There will also be a panel discussion during the community workshop that will focus on housing, economic development, open space and transportation.

“The ultimate question that we’re asking during that open house is what would you like to see. We’re asking residents and community members what would they like to see happen between 95th Street and 123rd Street,” Raby said. She added that the activities will be facilitated by the team at Far South, walking the participants through what already exists in the corridor, while the participants tell them what they would like to see added in the corridor.

Raby said the hope is to hear the community residents’ fresh, new ideas about what they want to see in the area. She encouraged community members who might not be able to attend the event on Nov. 15th, but still want to contribute feedback to visit the corridor plan website: www.southhalstedcorridorplan.org. Community members can also visit that website to get updates on the plan so they can stay on top of progress of the plan and the planning process.

Raby said the Far South CDC has used community feedback in the past to develop POP! Heights Park, which is located at 11227 South Halsted St. She said community engagement were able to provide input on what they wanted to see at the location. The Far South CDC worked with Sheldon Heights Church and the organization also worked with the community members and other community groups to figure out the best way to make the space inviting and suitable for recreation. Raby said the result is POP! Heights Plaza is a colorful, bright space that brings engagement to the community.

Raby said The Morgan Park Commons is another example of Far South taking community feedback to create a project that will benefit the community. The proposed development includes 258 units of rental housing, with 16,000 square feet of retail and office space, as well as 13,000 square feet of performing arts and culinary education space and 2.3 acres of public park and outdoor space. She said the space speaks to the desires of the community, who wanted culinary education and performing arts space.

To sign up for the community workshop on Nov. 15th, visit  https://southhalstedcorridorplan.org/2025/10/20/new-date-for-open-house-join-us-on-november-15th/. For more information about the Far South Community Development Corporation, visit www.farsouthcdc.org.

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