Despite the slowdown in the condo conversion craze, renters in Rogers Park on Chicago's far north side face a great deal of uncertainty about their future. Rising rents, aging buildings, and continued speculation are likely to lead to more conversions in the future. A group of organizations are working together to make sure that if a conversion takes place, renters are educated about their rights and their options.

Rogers Park has long been a community of renters, with renters making up more than 80% of households in the Chicago Lakefront community as recently as the 2000 Census. Since then, condo conversions have dramatically reduced the supply of rental housing. A Lakeside study found that between 2003 and 2006, more than 2600 new condos were added. In 2006, more than 918 rental units were lost just from larger apartment buildings. Not surprisingly, a survey of tenants in Rogers Park finds they are increasingly uncertain about their future, facing rising rents and fears of displacement from additional condominium developments.

 
In the summer of 2007, Lakeside CDC convened a series of meetings with organizations concerned about preserving rental housing and protecting tenants rights. The organizations subsequently formed into a committee to coordinate tenant services in Rogers Park and surrounding communities. Members currently include Lakeside CDC, Rogers Park Section 8 Tenants Council, Rogers Park Community Council, Rogers Park Community Action Network, Lawyers Committee for Better Housing, and Metropolitan Tenants Organization. 

The group has developed educational outreach materials and is planning a series of educational events for tenants and landlords, including workshops and trainings. A website devoted to rental housing need is in the works, along with a renters-only discussion blog, to provide renters and rental housing advocates an online community to discuss problems and seek assistance from knowledgeable service providers. 

The Committee will also strategize about how to better work with landlords to make sure that rental housing continues to be an attractive alternative to condo conversions. 

For more information, contact Ken Bigos at Lakeside CDC.