CNT delivers game-changing research, tools, and solutions to create sustainable + equitable communities.

Recent Work

Civic Innovation Hub

The Calumet Region is a region in which infrastructure solutions are planned and built with resident and community leadership. more »

Civic Innovation Hub Phase 2: Community Based Participatory Research

Residents used community-based participatory research to frame questions and plan local improvements more »

ETOD Social Impact Calculator

Discover the social and economic impacts of your affordable housing development and the benefits of locating it near transit. more »

Public procurement and contracting: can Milwaukee set new inclusion standards?

Local governments hold a tremendous amount of power and responsibility, anchoring nearly all public spending on water operations and capital improvements.  Milwaukee is a model for the nation in many ways, however, access to water-related jobs and contracts for all in the Milwaukee water sector remains an ongoing challenge, according to our new report, Public Procurement and Contracting in Milwaukee's Water Sector. The report highlights that good-faith efforts to share opportunities to... Continue reading »

 

Featured Publication

Bridging Visions, Accelerating Impact: Elevated Works 2025 Impact Report

By CNT and Elevated Works
June 9, 2025

Bridging Visions, Accelerating Impact: Elevated Works ETOD Technical Assistance Program Impact, by CNT and Elevated Chicago, highlights new best practices for publicly funded community development in general and equitable transit-oriented development specifically. With case studies, a comprehensive project list and other features, this report highlights the impact of the City of Chicago’s Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Technical Assistance Program from 2023 to 2025. The City’s $1 million investment in the Elevated Works technical assistance program we coordinated ensured the success of 29 projects, representing $300 million invested in Chicago communities. All 29 projects made meaningful progress, with 7 reaching groundbreaking and 5 more celebrating grand openings. Beyond these individual project milestones, Bridging Visions, Accelerating Impact describes shared successes and challenges for the entire pipeline and describes how we've advocated for systems-level changes to reduce barriers for equitable transit-oriented development in Chicago moving forward. From 2023 to 2025, we partnered with Elevated Chicago , IFF , Metropolitan Planning Council , Rudd Resources...

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Publication Library

 

Cutting parking for homes built near transit aims to ease housing crunch

Chicago Sun-Times | August 15, 2025

Emily Laflamme in CNT conference room (with shelf of awards)

A recently passed city ordinance that eliminates some parking minimums could lead to lower building costs, more housing and lower rents, experts say.

 

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Transit-Oriented Development show all (15)

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Transportationshow all (11)

Housing + Transportation Affordabilityshow all (29)

Parkingshow all (4)

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