“Having an organization that folks trust and that can direct resources to where they are of the most benefit is powerful.”
~ Debra Kutska, Cook County Government
Flood Equity Report
The flood equity report assesses disparities of urban flood risk for households of color in Chicago.
Our Work
Story
topics: Water
Curiosity is powerful. In that, it gives us permission to imagine the possibilities as opposed to being limited by what is. I remember as a child being a quiet observer with a lot of questions; aware of the distance traveled to access basic community amenities such as grocery stores or...
Publication
topics: Data Analysis, Environmental Justice, Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Urban Flooding, Water
Updated May, 2022 This study compares health and water-related conditions in Little Village to the Near North Side, and to Chicago city-wide. Chicago neighborhood data is reported by “community area”: 77 areas with defined boundaries that can include one or more neighborhoods. Little Village is...
Story
topics: Climate, Environmental Justice, Water
As data analysts and policy professionals, we spend a lot of time at our desks and behind screens, analyzing quantitative data, active or proposed policies and programs, and various written reports and documents. Much of what we analyze and review is -- or becomes -- an aggregation and...
Story
topics: Climate, Data Analysis, Environmental Justice, Equitable Transit Oriented Development, Housing, Policy, Transportation, Urban Flooding, Water
The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) has been a strong supporter of the concept of Justice40 since its announcement in early 2021. The goal of this program is to direct at least 40% of the benefits of federal investment to communities that have historically been left behind. Defining those...
Story
topics: Climate, Data Analysis, Policy, Urban Flooding, Water
The Urban Flooding Baseline Project seeks to clearly define the problem of urban flooding in the Calumet region using available quantitative data sources and first-hand pictorial data from residents to improve flood mitigation plans. At the end of July, we completed the Pilot and Phase 1 of the...
Story
topics: Climate, Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Water
It was raining – great for the new rain garden, but not so great for a community gardening day. Would anyone come? Hopeful, we set up the tents and laid out the sandwiches, and parents and youth started arriving a little after noon. "We were so thrilled that families and volunteers showed up...
Tool
topics: Data Analysis, Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Flooding, Water
The Green Values Calculator compares the performance, costs, and benefits of Green Infrastructure to conventional stormwater practices.
Publication
topics: Environmental Justice, Water
Through its Great Lakes Water Infrastructure Program, CNT partnered with the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) and the south suburban Village of Hazel to identify the probable location of lead service lines which connect a property to a utility’s water main. This effort also created a targeted...
Publication
topics: Climate, Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Housing, Sustainable Economic Development, Urban Flooding, Water
This report shows Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) adds value to homes. The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) worked with SB Friedman Development Advisors to model the impact of GSI installations, such as rain gardens, pervious pavement, swales, and planters, on property sales data in...
Publication
topics: Policy, Sustainable Economic Development, Water
The cost of water is on the rise due to decades of disinvestment in our community water supply, stormwater, and wastewater infrastructure systems. Across the country, the expense of water and sewer services has grown much faster than other household expenses over the past two decades. The...
Strengthening Transit Through Community Partnerships
