Committee on Housing and Real Estate meeting, December 3, 2025
- When: Wed, Dec 3, 2025, 12:30 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=1136559499
- Transcript: full text (20,405 words, automatic 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 heard public comment, much of it from police torture survivors and supporters of the Chicago Torture Justice Memorial, and then considered eleven agenda items. The committee recommended passage of the sale of city land at 55th and King Drive in the 20th Ward, including a land swap with Lake Park Associates, for the Chicago Torture Justice Memorial. It also advanced an ordinance dissolving the Chicago Community Land Trust (Chicago Housing Trust) and folding it into the Department of Housing, after members asked about the advisory board, equity formula, and homeowner protections. Two city lease renewals in the 36th Ward passed, with Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor and Alderperson Michelle A. Harris calling for a broader review of city leasing costs, and several city land sales and transfers passed. The Columbia Yacht Club parking right-of-entry extension was held pending information on the youth its programs serve.
Topics: Chicago Torture Justice Memorial, Chicago Housing Trust dissolution, Affordable homeownership, City property leases, City land sales, Columbia Yacht Club parking, Morgan Park Commons, Park District land transfer, Public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 13:46 Motions to allow Alderpersons Harris and Robinson to participate remotely under Rule 59: passed
- 14:23 Public comment: discussed
- 47:31 Rule 45 report from November 13, 2025: passed
- 48:04 Sale of city-owned property at 5413 South Calumet Avenue to Lake Park Associates under real estate exchange agreement for the Chicago Torture Justice Memorial (20th Ward): passed
- 56:10 Transfer of city-owned property at 8385 South Bricker Cove Avenue (as captioned) and 8319 South Vincennes Avenue to Chicago Park District (21st Ward): passed
- 59:07 Amendment of 2023 ordinance on acquisition of 11414 South Halsted Street from Albertsons LLC (21st Ward): passed
- 1:02:56 Substitute ordinance dissolving the Chicago Community Land Trust (Chicago Housing Trust) and forming a bureau within the Department of Housing: passed
- 1:56:49 Renewed lease with LFL Properties for 4310 West North Avenue (Trina Davila Community Service Center): passed
- 2:02:34 Renewed lease with 4615 Homer LLC for 4615 West Homer Street (Streets and Sanitation office): passed
- 2:09:44 Second amendment to right of entry agreement with Columbia Yacht Club for city parking lot under DuSable Lake Shore Drive (42nd Ward): held
- 2:15:48 Sale of city-owned property at 515 East Bowen Avenue to Landex Holding Company LLC (4th Ward): passed
- 2:19:26 Sale of city-owned property at 4018 South Ellis Avenue to 4020 South Ellis Condominium Association (4th Ward): passed
- 2:21:08 Sale of city-owned property at 514-516 East 50th Street to Walton Street Builders LLC (20th Ward): passed
- 2:23:11 Sale of city-owned property at 6118 and 6122 South Stewart Avenue to Rita Woodward (20th Ward): passed
- 2:24:40 Motion to adjourn: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Pat Dowell (alderperson): Commended Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor and the memorial architect, acknowledged people affected by Burge-era misconduct, said she supports the memorial, and asked about its funding source. (50:59); Asked whether a Housing Trust homeowner gets any upside when selling the home. (1:30:55); Asked whether debts or obligations of the Housing Trust would transfer to the city and requested the trust's bank balance and audits. (1:36:06)
- Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Spoke about the harm suffered by police torture survivors, said the memorial is a way for the city to apologize, thanked Alderperson Pat Dowell for agreeing to the land swap, and asked members to vote for it. (52:01); Asked for the rationale for creating the Housing Trust and now dissolving it. (1:15:53); Requested lists of properties acquired by the trust and of the homes in its portfolio. (1:25:51)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Confirmed the Vincennes parcel is internal to the park and already improved with recreational facilities. (58:18); Said the Housing Trust board's own decision to dissolve earned his support and asked about the timeline for an advisory committee and homeowner representation on it. (1:11:30)
- Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Explained the amendment corrects ordinance language for the former Jewel-Osco site at 115th and Halsted, planned as the mixed-use Morgan Park Commons development. (59:56); Described other 21st Ward developments including Habitat for Humanity townhomes and reuse of closed retail sites. (1:01:47)
- Gregory I. Mitchell (alderperson): Asked whether the resale equity formula can be negotiated. (1:38:02); Asked whether trust homes can be placed in a trust with step-up provisions to support generational wealth. (1:42:34); Asked what happens to a trust home and its mortgage when the owner dies. (1:46:15)
- Michelle A. Harris (alderperson): Said she supports the leases but agrees with Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor that the city should review its spending on leases and use city-owned property where possible. (2:08:52)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Asked what building is on the corner next to the East 50th Street parcel. (2:22:37)
Exchanges between members
- 50:59 Alderperson Pat Dowell commended Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor for the memorial effort.
- 54:15 Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor thanked Alderperson Pat Dowell for agreeing to the land swap.
- 2:08:52 Alderperson Michelle A. Harris said she agrees with Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor that the city should review its leasing spending.