The Burnham Project

America's First Sustainable, Car-Free City

A transformative urban development in the Chicago metropolitan region redefining American city living through walkable neighborhoods, comprehensive public transit, and community-centered design.

60K Housing Units
4 mi² Total Area
98 Walkability Score
$330K Average Unit Price
JOIN THE VISION

The Vision

To establish the first fully integrated, car-free sustainable city in the United States, demonstrating that high-quality urban living can be achieved without automobile dependency while maintaining affordability, walkability, community connection, and environmental stewardship.

The Problem

Housing Crisis: Median home prices in walkable Chicago neighborhoods exceed $800,000

Car Dependency: Average household spends $12,000 annually on vehicle costs

Traffic Nightmare: Chicago drivers spend 102 hours stuck in traffic annually — 940 million collective hours lost

The Solution

Affordability: Homes priced $140K-$750K, 50-65% below comparable walkable neighborhoods

Transit-First: 100% public transit coverage with 20-line tram network + direct Metra connection to downtown Chicago

Rapid Build: Modular construction enables 60-70% faster completion than traditional methods

The Opportunity

Real Estate Arbitrage: Vibrant walkable cities command premium prices — we deliver the experience at accessible cost

Blank Canvas: Implement 200+ years of urban planning lessons from scratch

Market Demand: 9.6M population in Chicago metro with 80,000-unit housing deficit

Key Differentiators

🚊

20-Line Tram Network

42 miles of track with 322 stops. Maximum 5-minute walk to any tram stop. 24/7 service with 5-minute peak frequency. Free for all residents.

🚂

Direct Chicago Connection

New Metra station with 30-45 minute commute to downtown Chicago Loop. 8-10 trains per day initially, expanding to 20+.

🏗️

Modular Construction

World's largest modular housing factory producing 22,000 units/year. 45-60 day build time from factory to move-in ready.

🏞️

64 Neighborhood Parks

4.3 acres each with playgrounds, sports courts, community gardens, and greenhouses. Maximum 2-3 minute walk from any residence.

🏊

16 Community Centers

Each with indoor pool, fitness center, communal kitchen, and rooftop running track. Free access for all residents.

🎓

School System

9 elementary, 4 middle, 2 high schools, plus 30 childcare facilities. Free childcare for all residents.

🚴

6.5-Mile Elevated Loop

60-foot wide elevated bike and pedestrian path, 20 feet above street level. Heated in winter for year-round access.

Walk Score: 98 by design — Maximum walkability in every neighborhood

By The Numbers

70K Housing Units
8 mi Eleavted Bike & Walking Path
100% Transit Coverage
42 mi Tram Track
322 Tram Stops
64 Neighborhood Parks
16 Community Centers
6,400 Garden Plots

Cost Comparison

Neighborhood Median Home Price Transit Access Walk Score
Wicker Park, Chicago $625,000 CTA Blue Line 94
Lincoln Park, Chicago $750,000+ CTA Red/Brown Lines 95
Logan Square, Chicago $485,000 CTA Blue Line 89
The Burnham Project $330K Metra + 20-Line Tram 98 (by design)
40-60% cost savings vs. comparable Chicago neighborhoods, but with even better public transit coverage and more public amenities

Ambitious 5-Year Build Timeline "Make No Small Plans"

Year 0

Foundation & Fundraising

Pre-Seed ($600K): Build team, professional designs, validation

Series A ($60M): Land acquisition, approvals, 5,000 pre-sales with $200 deposits

Series B ($200M): 14,000 pre-sales secured with 10% deposits

Y0
Y1
Year 1

Infrastructure & Factory

Population: 0 residents

Activities: Build modular factory Phase 1, install utilities, construct initial tram lines, complete 2,250 homes

Funding: $1B from pre-sales down payments + Series B

Year 2

Initial Buildout

Population: 17,500 residents

Units Complete: 9,000 total

Milestone: Factory produces 8,000 units. First residents move in. Community centers open.

Y2
Y3
Year 3

Municipal Incorporation

Population: 62,500 residents

Units Complete: 27,000 total

MAJOR MILESTONE: City officially incorporates. All schools open. Full tram network operational.

Year 4

Rapid Expansion

Population: 112,500 residents

Units Complete: 49,000 total

Milestone: Factory at 22,000 units/year capacity. First municipal elections held.

Y4
Y5
Year 5

Full Buildout Complete

Population: 170,000+ residents

Units Complete: 70,000 total

Achievement: Fully operational sustainable city. Self-sufficient municipal services.

60-70% faster than traditional construction methods
Enabled by modular manufacturing and blank canvas construction

Investment Opportunity

Join us in building America's first sustainable city. Multiple entry points for impact investors, real estate funds, and strategic partners seeking exceptional returns with transformative social and environmental impact.

Pre-Seed Round

$600K
15% Equity Stake
  • Build core team (6 members)
  • Select Site
  • Political buy-in (letter of support from local politicians)
  • Marketing Campaign
  • Modular Construction manufacturing partner signed LOI 3
  • Environmental Assessment Plan, Documentation, & Templates submitted after site site selected
  • Zoning Plan submitted to local govt for approval
  • Detailed Financial Models and scenario planning
  • Market Demand Detailed Study
  • Land purchase option agreements signed
  • Contract urban design firm
  • Working on Series A Fundraise
  • 5,000 pre-sales with $200 deposits

Financial Overview

Total Project Value: $10.5B

Housing Revenue: $23.0B ($4.6B down + $18.4B mortgages)

Commercial Revenue: $1.7B (3.8M sq ft retail/office)

Average Unit Profit Margin: $127K per unit (39%)

Total Net Income: $8.9B from housing + $1.7B commercial

Why This Works

Presale Model: Buyer down payments fund development (no expensive debt)

Factory Efficiency: 50-60% cost reduction vs. traditional construction

Market Validation: 14,000 pre-sales required before major construction begins

Price Advantage: 50-65% below comparable walkable neighborhoods