Near South Planning Board is a not-for-profit community based organization serving businesses, property owners, developers, and institutions for 64 years.
Background
South Side Planning Board was founded in 1946 through the efforts of Michael Reese Hospital, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Mercy Hospital, when the City of Chicago did not even have a planning department. Burnham Park Planning Board began in 1980 and in 1993 the two organizations were merged into the Near South Planning Board.
Our Goals
For over 60 years, Near South Planning Board has been working to improve this area. Our community has been experiencing a period of tremendous growth and development.
New housing, beautification and infrastructure improvements are creating an attractive neighborhood that is bringing in people from all over the city. The variety of housing stock, in all price ranges, assures that we will continue as a diverse and integrated community.
At the Near South Planning Board, we are gratified that our persistence is being rewarded. The Board is constantly involved in numerous issues and concerns, on a variety of levels, that directly or indirectly affect the Near South area. In addition, we sponsor the Authors in the Schools program and we host the Harold Washington Literary Dinner.
As a not-for-profit organization, however, it is a constant battle, not only to do good things for the community, but for ourselves to survive.
Your contribution is important as we continue to promote the neighborhood, monitor and direct growth, interface with the City and the media, and work to eliminate blight.
Who We Serve
Board Members
NSPB serves the communities of:
Burnham Park
Burnham Shores
Central Station
Chinatown
Columbia College Chicago
Dearborn Park
DePaul University
Franklin Point
Groveland Park
Michael Reese Hospital
Illinois Institute of Technology
Lake Meadows
LaSalle Park
McCormick Place
Mercy Hospital
Prairie Avenue Historic District
Prairie Shores
Printers Row
River City
Roosevelt University
The Gap
The Financial District
The Museum Campus
South Commons
South Michigan Avenue
Woodland Park
NEAR SOUTH BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Officers
Chairman
Anthony Kramer, Draper & Kramer
President
Bonnie Sanchez-Carlson, Near South Planning Board
Vice Chairman
Jeffrey Thomas, Blackie’s
Treasurer
Bobby Mitchell, Service Web Offset
Secretary
Roy Svenson, Chicago Community Bank
Vice President
Peter Cacciatore, Jos. Cacciatore & Co. Real Estate
Vice President
Gerald W. Fogelson, Fogelson Properties, Inc.
Vice President
Keith Giles, Frankel and Giles
Vice President
Connie Murphy, Mercy Hospital
Board Members
Fran Casey
DePaul University
Haley Schaeffer
Chicago Tribune
Chi Can To
Chinatown Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Arol Augsburger
Illinois College of Optometry
Leroy Kennedy
V.P. Community Affairs & Outreach, Illinois Institute of Technology
Peter Cacciatore
President, Jos. Cacciatore & Co. Real Estate
Blanton Canady
Owner & Manager, McDonald’s
Dr. Warrick Carter
President, Columbia College Chicago
Timothy Desmond
President, Central Station Development
Eric Eloe
Vice President Development, CPS Parking
Debra Fassnacht
Executive Vice President, Shedd Aquarium
Gerald W. Fogelson
President, Fogelson Properties, Inc.
Keith Giles
Frankel and Giles
Kim Goluska
President & CEO, The Chicago Consultant Studio, Inc.
