Committee on Housing and Real Estate meeting, July 10, 2023
- When: Mon, Jul 10, 2023, 1:00 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Housing and Real Estate
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928563/video/838069360
- Transcript: full text (18,175 words, official captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The Committee on Housing and Real Estate allowed Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson to attend remotely, read a written comment asking for a longer public comment window (which the chair said would be discussed with the mayor's office), heard one in-person public commenter, and approved its June 2023 Rule 45 report. The committee recommended passage of the city's acquisition of a motel at 5230 North Lincoln Avenue in the 40th Ward for a stabilization housing pilot with on-site health services for high-need unhoused residents, after questions about costs, eligibility, delegate agencies and existing shelters. A right-of-way acquisition for CDOT's Burley Avenue roadway project in the 10th Ward was held on a motion by Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor, who said the presentation lacked information on the related private development agreement. The committee also recommended passage of a $1-per-parcel land sale to Deeply Rooted Dance Center at 5339-5345 South State Street and three other city land sales in the 37th and 7th Wards.
Topics: stabilization housing pilot, homelessness, Burley Avenue roadway, eminent domain, truck routes, Deeply Rooted Dance Center, city land sales, public comment process
Agenda items discussed
- 14:37 Motion to allow Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson to attend remotely: passed
- 21:11 June 2023 Rule 45 report: passed
- 21:38 Acquisition of 5230 North Lincoln Avenue for the stabilization housing pilot program, 40th Ward: passed
- 59:12 Right-of-way acquisition for Burley Avenue roadway project from East 106th Street to East 126th Place, 10th Ward: held
- 1:51:20 Land write-down sale of 5339-5345 South State Street to Deeply Rooted Dance Center, 3rd Ward: passed
- 2:05:12 Negotiated sale of city-owned property at 5324 West Ferdinand Street, 37th Ward: passed
- 2:07:16 Sale of city-owned property at 7408 South Phillips Avenue, 7th Ward: passed
- 2:09:41 Adjacent neighbor land sale at 8208 South Houston Avenue, 7th Ward: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Byron Sigcho-López (chair): Responded to a written comment by saying he would discuss with the mayor's office allowing appropriate time for public comment. (16:32); Commended the stabilization housing pilot, asked departments to coordinate with alderpersons on delegate agencies, and encouraged members to identify sites in their wards. (56:20); Cited a recent domestic violence death in Little Village and said the committee wants to work on more options for domestic violence victims. (57:51)
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Said the pilot builds on improved health outcomes from a prior motel program and could become a model of bridge housing, with community referrals and hospital and business partners. (28:10); Said the goal is eventually one such site in each ward and asked for the committee's support. (30:50); Said if the pilot fails the property should become affordable housing, and noted the city has little non-congregate housing of this kind. (34:45)
- Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Asked for a cost breakdown and why the project took since 2021. (43:11); Said the city often picks delegate agencies that do not perform and urged close work with the local alderperson on selection. (44:21); Asked how existing shelters will be improved and called for an analysis of current shelter conditions and supportive housing. (47:12)
- Maria E. Hadden (alderperson): Suggested a similar briefing on the department's support for shelter operators acquiring non-congregate properties. (51:38); Asked how participants will be selected for the 40 rooms and whether preferences such as veterans could apply. (52:45); Asked for quarterly progress reports on the pilot. (55:55)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Asked who will own the acquired parcels, their cost, the street's classification and whether an environmental impact study was done. (1:20:10)
- Pat Dowell (alderperson): Said there are no current plans for the nearby old bakery building but nearby investments may spur activity. (2:00:53); Thanked colleagues and said Deeply Rooted will be a new Black dance cultural institution serving the city. (2:04:08)
Exchanges between members
- 43:32 Vasquez answered Taylor's question about why the project took time since funding was approved.
- 56:20 The chair commended Vasquez for the stabilization housing initiative.
- 1:20:18 Manaa-Hoppenworth said she appreciated Taylor's questions before asking her own.