Friends of Downtown is the voice for intelligent planning and urban design for downtown Chicago. Founded in 1981, we are recognized as a vital and influential component of the city’s design and building process.

Friends of Downtown directly influences planning and development decisions through debate, public advocacy, and cooperation with other civic organizations. We create awareness of important issues affecting downtown, enabling citizens to develop their understanding and voice their opinions of Chicago’s physical and social environment.

Members throughout the metropolitan area are committed to ensuring that downtown Chicago remains the well-designed, vibrant, economic heart of the city.

For information on joining Friends of Downtown, send us a quick e-mail.

Friends of Downtown
PO Box 1635
Chicago 60690
Phone 312 458 9454

Click here to get e-mail notifying you of Friends of Downtown events.

Brown Bag Luncheons
Friends of Downtown’s popular lunchtime programs are usually held the first Thursday of the month, in the Chicago Cultural Center. Click here for a summary of recent programs.

The next Friends of Downtown Brown Bag presentation
Thursday, May 1st at 12.15 pm
Chicago Cultural Center
Claudia Cassidy Theater

A Year in the Life of the CTA
Lydia Murray, Chief of Staff, will discuss what's new at the CTA and what the future holds for public transportation in Chicago.