Committee on Housing and Real Estate meeting, November 29, 2023
- When: Wed, Nov 29, 2023, 12:00 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/889313676
- Transcript: full text (12,398 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 considered five items. Members questioned a proposed lease amendment for additional office space at 2 North LaSalle for the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability and the Department of Environment, raising concerns about cost, ownership disclosure of the landlord LLC and the use of city-owned buildings; the item was held for the next committee meeting pending more information. A public way easement for a drainage swale at 3300 South Kedzie was deferred at the request of the ward alderperson. The committee recommended approval of multifamily loan funds for the Lakeview Landing supportive housing project at 835 West Addison, an implementation services agreement with ProLink Solutions for Department of Housing data management, and the reauthorization of the Flexible Housing Pool program administered by the Department of Family and Support Services.
Topics: Office lease at 2 North LaSalle, City office space, Drainage easement, Supportive housing, Lakeview Landing, Housing data software, Flexible Housing Pool, Homelessness, Public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 18:03 Rule 45 report from October 30, 2023: passed
- 18:30 Amendment to lease agreement with 2 North LaSalle Financial Associates LLC for additional office space for CCPSA and Department of Environment: held
- 49:03 Public way easement agreement with 33 on Bailando Development LLC for drainage swale at 3300 South Kedzie Avenue (O2023-0005776): deferred
- 50:42 Allocation of multifamily program funds and bonds to Lakeview Landing LP for permanent supportive housing at 835 West Addison (O2023-0005797): passed
- 59:13 License and subscription services agreement with ProLink Solutions Inc for Department of Housing data management (O2023-0005948): passed
- 1:25:40 Authorization for Flexible Housing Pool program and extension of landlord rental subsidy program by Department of Family and Support Services (O2023-0005793): passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Byron Sigcho-López (chair): Read a message from the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability describing its need for office space and staff working in cubicles. (35:31); Said the committee needs a broad analysis of city lease transactions and full disclosure of LLC principals, and committed to getting members that information. (45:03)
- Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Asked about the location, the length of the existing lease and what the city already pays for space at 2 North LaSalle. (21:04); Said spending about $36,000 a month on additional space was too costly given budget pressures and asked whether vacant schools or city-owned buildings were considered. (22:17); Said the departments should be located in communities rather than downtown and stated she could not support the lease amendment. (25:49)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Said it would be irresponsible to create departments without providing space for them and asked which departments are already at 2 North LaSalle. (29:56); Said co-locating the Department of Environment near other departments makes sense and that $2.25 per square foot appears to be a good deal compared with rents in his ward. (30:56); Noted that buying property in the current market would take it off the tax rolls and asked what the consequences of not approving the lease expansion would be. (32:04)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Asked for details on who occupies the building and what they pay, the city's total outlay and square footage, and the status of an evaluation of space in City Hall. (34:36)
- Gregory I. Mitchell (alderperson): Asked the department to present a full business case for lease decisions, including costs, square footage and other options, so members can make informed decisions. (39:05)
- Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Spoke in support of the Lakeview Landing project, describing its long development history, its transit-accessible location and its role in bringing affordability to his ward. (55:21)
Exchanges between members
- 35:31 The chair thanked Alderperson Walter R. Burnett and read a CCPSA message in response to the questions raised.