Committee on Housing and Real Estate

Attendance is called for the alderpeople and there are six public speakers today.

The first speaker is from the Obama Community Benefits Agreement Coalition. They are commenting on Lightfoot’s South Shore Ordinance & states it does not met the needs of the neighborhood, who are primarily renters. The proposal takes away money from affordable housing programs.

The 2nd speaker is also w/ the CBA Coalition. They say they have been pushing for a comprehensive housing package that addresses all the needs of
renters & condo/homeowners for the past 9 months, & they want Lightfoot/alderpeople to work more closely w/ them to meet their needs

The 3rd speaker is a renter in the 5th ward & in CBA. They ask about what protections exist for residents near the Obama Center who are already being pushed out. They ask for spaces to be reserved for affordable housing/programs to help renters stay, like CBA has outlined

The 4th speaker is w/ CBA. They say that the CBA ordinance caters to all the needs of renters & homeowners, and those are who make up community in Chicago. The mayor’s ordinance caters to a small group of people and divides. CBA’s ordinance here: http://www.obamacba.org/

The 5th speaker is w/ CBA. They are 30 years old but have already moved 15x in South Shore (SS). They say longtime SS residents should be prioritized. The mayor’s ordinance does not help SS community members with rent/buying homes, & is focusing on those outside the neighborhood

They are going into the first item on the agenda: the Use of “John Burns” unit at the southeast corner of 2243 S Throop St by the Department of Police. https://t.co/jTS3YLslkJ

The use would be for the Police Department’s community safety team & will be 13200 square feet of space. It will be $15,000 per month and is near the Dan Ryan & I-55 https://t.co/AhCCw5EBto

Ryan Fitzsimmons, Deputy Director at Chicago Police Department is at the meeting. Ald. La Spata asks how the space will be used 24/7. Another member of the PD answers that they are moving the community safety team from its old location

Ald. La Spata wants clarification on its function. A CPD Lieutenant responds this location would allow quicker deployment due to its centrality to highways/sides of the city. The old building is in 61st/Racine & farther resulting in some lag when responding

Ald. La Spata says we can think of it as a unit assigned there but for use in the entire city. Ald. Sigcho-Lopez asks about the response time, logistics, and operations carried in the space & the function of the unit.

The CPD Lieutenant responds that it will quicken deployment for events like gun violence, festivals, or lakefront patrol. Ald. Sigcho-Lopez asks about the staff capacity there. The Lieutenant responds it will be 24/7 with day & night time crews.

The alderpeople approve the ordinance and move onto item #2: Lease agreement with the US Coast Guard USA for two ten-year term extensions at the
Chicago Marine Safety Station https://t.co/A36Vzfjfis

The Chicago Fire Department wants to remove 1 bunk room from the Coast Guard’s premises so the CFD can use the room instead, because the Coast Guard are not there as much.

https://t.co/6xFBc7LzUE

https://t.co/vjmktFZcAA

There are no questions and they approve it to move on to the third item: Use of certain office space w/ adjacent parking at 11532 S Western Ave by the Department of Police https://t.co/9F7PH8Vix5

The space will be used for the Police Department’s Employee Assistance Program. https://t.co/ihPD9LC3qR

Ald. Osterman asks about how many staff are currently onboard/are in the onboarding process. Ryan Fitzsimmons answers that there were 11 clinicians but the program doubled it to 22 & the assistant director and counseling director which makes 24 people currently, with 4 more later

Ald. Osterman asks if this program will provide assistance to officers and if they are looking for a northside location as well. A CPD member responds that they are currently looking

An alderwoman asks who owns the property now. The CPD member responds that the owners are investors John Dunnett and Chris Pappas. The alderwoman asks if it will be 9-5. Fitzsimmons says yes but if there are emergencies there will be different hours.

Ald. O’Shea comments on how the location was a restaurant/banquet facility/event space but after COVID the banquet hall shut down and was vacant until the investors took over it. The investors partnered with OSF healthcare to do medical health assistance for first responders

Ald. O’Shea supports putting such a building in his community. The investors also bought & redeveloped another building in the same community, the Chesterfield Federal Building

Ald. La Spata asks if this is a program that is currently housed elsewhere in the city. Officer Stoltz answers there is a west side location in a residential building a couple blocks from the United Center. Another group is working out of an industrial building alongside CDOT

Ald. La Spata says there is a real need for expanding mental health services “given the violence experienced both by the officers and the communities they serve.”

Ald. La Spata asks why are they creating specific behavioral health facilities instead of placing clinicians at districts throughout the city. Officer Stoltz answers that there is more anonymity for officers by doing it this way

There are no objections to the ordinance and they move onto the fourth item: Lease agreement with DePaul University to extend the use of
space by the Chicago Public Library at 1150 W Fullerton Ave https://t.co/jLRBcrq6A0

It is the Lincoln Park branch of the CPL and they want to extend the lease until 2027. There are no objections and they move onto the fifth item: Lease Agreement with Westside Heath Authority for their use of vacant land at
4453 W Madison St as outdoor community plaza. https://t.co/TYcavQkOY6

Attached are renderings of the proposed community space. There are no objections and they move onto the sixth item. https://t.co/Bh3Le49hgX

Meg Gustafson, is presenting on the “Sale of City-owned vacant property at 4116 S Lake Park Ave to NeighborSpace, an intergovernmental entity, for expansion of Milton Mizenburg, Jr. Sculpture Garden as
community-managed garden.” https://t.co/QOG46SjhQN

Ald. King previously asked the community about the community sculpture garden & they agreed it should be kept. Ald. King shares about its history as being led by a community member. Ald. Dowell congratulates King on enhancing the legacy/memory of the artist

Ald. Dowell asks how many parcels of city-owned land are owned by NeighborSpace in total. They clarify that this is a sale & not a lease. Dowell brings up an in-perpetuity clause.

Only Ald. Maldonado who votes no, and they move onto the 7th item: Negotiated sale of vacant City-owned property at 4224 S Wells St to Zeric Richardson. https://t.co/gw4x0prTaB

Ald. King has a point of clarification. King asks when the owner put in the application. The presenter answers it was a year and a half ago. There are no objections and they move onto the 8th item.

8th item: “Sale of vacant City-owned property with open space term covenants at 4441 S Princeton Ave to Andrea Bell.” The space will be used as an extended lawn. There are no objections and they move onto the 9th item. https://t.co/0zuNMsECBJ

1. “Sale of vacant City-owned property with open space term covenants at 514-516 E 50th St (rear lot of 4942 S Forrestville Ave) to Lourdes Grullon” The land will be used for parking. https://t.co/exR8Vv0ksE

There were no objections and they move onto the 10th item: “Sale of vacant City-owned property with open space term covenants at 514-516 E 50th St to Bernadette Raami Noland” It will be used for parking, the same situation as the last item. There are no objections. https://t.co/hFGh1XBl0M

They move to 11. “Sale of vacant City-owned property at 901 W 51st St with open space term covenants to Angelina Contreras.” It will be used as an extended yard. There are no objections and they move onto the next item. https://t.co/y7aEcHGvsM

1. “Sale of vacant City-owned property at 4447 W Gladys Ave to Bryan Ramson” It will be used as an extended yard. There are no objections and they move onto the next item. https://t.co/DxA1tFXX3j

1. “Redevelopment agreement with financial assistance of loan or grant from Multifamily Program, or Chicago Recovery Plan Funds to Sarah’s Circle for construction of rental studios and supportive services with outdoor green space at 4737 N Sheridan Road” Anna Booth is presenting

They will use the space for subsidized housing of 24 units and Sarah’s Circle operations. https://t.co/KxEv89y6wT

The building is near other Sarah’s Circle buildings and this is a rendering of the proposed building. https://t.co/FZdxFKoYjr

Ald. Cappleman says the community are also fans of Sarah’s Circle & are in support of providing housing to women that would otherwise be homeless.

There are no objections and they move onto item 14: ” Grant Funds Agreement thru the Department of Housing with Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) to establish Shared Ownership Housing and Preservation Pilot
Program (HOA/Co-op), a/k/a South Shore Condo Preservation Pilot Program”

Will Edwards, Assistant Commissioner, is presenting the Housing and Preservation Pilot Program. https://t.co/LSMPF8AXzs

Edwards says this program is not comprehensive and that they want to work with community groups. This pilot is to gain confidence from banks on receiving the money they loan back. Another big part is moving people into the ability to accept a loan and pay it off. https://t.co/L4mh7GoJUX

Edwards explains the goals and solutions. They are focusing on purchasing the buildings now in order to secure home ownership for residents. It will be a $5 million investment and push for 50% of HOA to keep >50% of their units as home owners. https://t.co/Z7SMRIVhVp

Edwards says their ability to offer loans is very limited so they want to demonstrate a model for HOA to pay back loans. Ald. Hairston says this began 20 years ago when she found that people in condos between 67/71st South Jeffery and South Shore Drive challenged people to stay

Buildings were condemned because residents were not able to afford assessments for the City’s Life Safety evaluations. Ald. Hairston says programs were not geared for condos or people with fixed incomes, and this program is.

Ald. Hairston says it’s one piece of the puzzle & is not comprehensive.

Ald. Sigcho-Lopez asks about the funding for the program. Edwards responds that a portion would go to loan funds to defer individual maintenance for buildings.

They are working with the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) to arrange to make a better timeline for fixed income earners to pay the loans back (the regular timeline is 3-5 years, which is not possible for fixed-income earners).

Ald. Hairston talks more about the infrastructure of the buildings that add additional costs to the condos and homeowners & they have tailored the program to fit their needs. Ald. Dowell commends Ald. Hairston’s work.

There are no objections to the ordinance and they move onto the “Q1 2022 Housing Report.”

Bryan Esenberg, the Managing Deputy Commissioner for DOH Programs, is presenting. The multi-family projects are leading & running ahead of schedule but not so much for the single-family projects. Esenberg rehases past projects like Roosevelt Square 3B under CHA & Related Midwest. https://t.co/NRvS1UvY93

Here are other multi-family projects. A notable one is the Chicago Lighthouse Residences, which is targeted for those who are blind or visually impaired, the first of its kind. https://t.co/2VcmoWN109

These are the final two multi-family projects presented. The Pilsen site acquisition is in a rapidly gentrifying area and will work with community groups to address housing needs. https://t.co/YWovHFklvK

Single family programs had a slow start but are now returning to pre-pandemic levels, such as a tax program that reduced taxes for homeowners. In North Lawndale, Prodigy LLC purchased city lots for $1 a piece to construct flats/affordable housing. https://t.co/rLUBNFtwv9

Esenberg talks about the Preservation of Homes, which goes inside units to preserve it, and the Chicago Blueprint for Fair Housing, which seeks to address Chicago’s history of racist housing policy. https://t.co/KdPCC0KJSU

Esenberg explains the Encumbrance Ordinance which waives city debt as an incentive to rehab distressed properties in neighborhoods where development is most challenging https://t.co/PT3kSEx9WV

Ald. Osterman asks about funding, and if the state or federal government has provided funding. Esenberg answers that their department has relied on federal program & CRP resources which has allowed them to focus on what they never focused on before, like homeless populations

Ald. La Spata asks 3 questions: How does DOH engage with challenges like outside bids & increased construction costs, so what should alderman do? Esenberg answers that there is institutional knowledge to what things cost & they can get the money out to close deals

Esenberg says the costs are the ones that we create and requiring 3 bids was part of their equity choices this year. They compare bidders & have the comparisons to make the decisions. The goal is to close.

Ald. La Spata asks about fair housing & for a public conversation about what that means (The Connected Community Ordinance). Ald. Osterman doesn’t know if they want to open up the can of ordinance.

Ald. Osterman talks about looking at how private development can build economy in South and West sides of Chicago. Esenberg talks about the HOA pilot preservation program and how to prioritize people and buildings, and how to house people with amenities.

Ald. La Spata asks about about reformed ARO ordinance(?), which was done a year ago. LINK: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/doh/provdrs/developers/svcs/aro.html

Ald. La Spata asks about what leasing looks like for the ARO units & also what centralized leasing looks like. Esenberg says that they can only clearly see the effects in the fall report. For centralized leasing Daniel & his team are studying how it is handled in other US places.

Ald. Sigcho-Lopez asks about what they can do to add to their ability to increase affordable housing. Esenberg responds that they need to look at what their 5-year plan looks like & what they can do with their current resources. They just need support from the alderman.

The goal is more of a target than an obligation. Ald. Sigcho-Lopez asks about 18th & Peoria affordable housing project. Ald. Sigcho-Lopez asks about possibilities of housing for elderly and people with disabilities.

Esenberg answers that they are fortunate they have access to tax credits and federal funds, and are focusing on getting the projects done instead of being stretched out over decades. Ald. Sigcho-Lopez looks forward to contributing to the community-driven process in Pilsen.

Ald. Osterman talks about what the state, not federal government, can do financially for housing and thinks it will be critical in the years to come. The meeting is adjourned.

That concludes the tweets for this meeting.

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