Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel visited the Pride Action Tank tiny home model March 3, along with Ald. Ray Lopez and Lisa Morrison Butler, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services. The model, located for three more months at 4631 S. Marshfield, is part of an effort, funded by Alphawood Foundation and Polk Bros. Foundation, to advocate for small-footprint homes to be added to the menu of housing options in the city, including for youth and adults experiencing homelessness, veterans, young moms, the chronically homeless and more. Tracy Baim, founder of Pride Action Tank, spoke about the potential clients who have toured the home, and their passion for its possibilities. The Mayor, Lopez and Butler all expressed strong support of the concept for Chicago. For-profit developers are also expressing interest to provide more tiny home options. Pictured from left: Tiny home winning-design architects Lon Stousland and Marty Sandberg (Terry Howell couldn’t make it), Emanuel, Lopez, Butler, Baim, Catherine Baker of Landon Bone Baker (she oversaw the design competition), and Michael Negron from the mayor’s office. Also on the tour was Eithne McMenamin, who is joining Pride Action Tank this week to consult on tiny homes. See www.facebook.com/ChicagoCottagesATinyHomeTaskForce/ or www.prideactiontank.org.
Photo by Hal Baim