# Committee on Housing and Real Estate meeting, January 17, 2024

- When: Wed, Jan 17, 2024, 9:30 AM (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](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/housing-and-real-estate)
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/901613801
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/901613801.txt) (11,907 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 met on January 17, 2024, with ten items on the agenda, approved remote attendance for Alderpersons Tabares and Ramírez-Rosa, heard one public commenter, and approved the Rule 45 report for December 5, 2023. The committee recommended approval of all ten items: a $1 million loan to Duo Development Corporation to preserve three affordable buildings in the 31st and 33rd Wards; new financial assistance and loan restructuring for the 60-unit Brainerd Senior Center Apartments rehabilitation in the 21st Ward, including a decarbonization pilot; a low-affordability community designation for 1868-1878 North Milwaukee Avenue; an easement for a drainage swale at 3300 South Kedzie Avenue; an intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Housing Authority on accessible home modifications; open space land sales in the 4th, 22nd and 10th Wards; ChiBlockBuilder side yard sales in five wards; a land sale on West 63rd Street in the 16th Ward; a land sale at 2151 West Adams Street; and, as a substitute, a $1.37 million land sale and redevelopment agreement for a food hall and commercial building at 4727-4759 South Cottage Grove Avenue. Members asked about funding sources, ownership, program eligibility, parking and affordability requirements.

Topics: Affordable housing preservation, Senior housing rehabilitation, Decarbonization, City land sales, ChiBlockBuilder, Accessible home modifications, Property tax incentives, Easement agreements, Commercial redevelopment

### Agenda items discussed

- [12:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=738) Rule 59 remote attendance for Alderpersons Tabares and Ramírez-Rosa: passed
- [14:14](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=854) Rule 45 report from December 5, 2023: passed
- [14:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=877) Multi-family loan to Duo Development Corporation for acquisition of three buildings through the Preservation of Existing Affordable Rental program (31st and 33rd Wards) (O2023-0006387): passed
- [21:26](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=1286) Financial assistance and loan restructuring for Brainerd Senior Preservation LP, 8901-8925 South Loomis Street (21st Ward) (O2023-0006388): passed
- [41:19](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=2479) Designation of 1868-1878 North Milwaukee Avenue as low-affordability community: passed
- [44:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=2694) Easement agreement with 3335 Lawndale Development LLC to maintain and operate a drainage swale at 3300 South Kedzie Avenue (22nd Ward) (O2023-0005776): passed
- [50:10](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=3010) Intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Housing Authority regarding the accessible home modification program (O2023-0006379): passed
- [58:57](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=3537) Sale of city-owned property for open space at 4337 South Lake Park Avenue, 3435 West 23rd Street and 3109 East 92nd Street (O2023-0006385): passed
- [1:05:38](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=3938) Sale of city-owned side yard properties in the 3rd, 10th, 28th, 29th and 37th Wards through ChiBlockBuilder (O2023-0006402): passed
- [1:08:47](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=4127) Negotiated sale of city-owned property at 1946 and 1948 West 63rd Street for open space and parking (16th Ward) (O2023-0006394): passed
- [1:13:48](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=4428) Negotiated sale of city-owned property at 2151 West Adams Street for a three-story multi-family building (27th Ward) (O2023-0006396): passed
- [1:19:52](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=4792) Substitute ordinance: negotiated sale with redevelopment agreement for 4727-4759 South Cottage Grove Avenue for a food hall and commercial building (4th Ward): passed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Byron Sigcho-López](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/25) (chair): Commented on the importance of the accessible home modification program, noting the increase in units served last year and that accessibility and affordability are committee priorities. ([57:28](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=3448)); Said it was good to see investment coming to the 4th Ward. ([1:31:19](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=5479))
- [Ronnie L. Mosley](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/21) (alderperson): Stated his support for the Brainerd Senior Center rehabilitation, saying seniors have been anticipating the renovation and that it creates a mixed-income place to live in the 21st Ward, and asked for favorable approval. ([35:08](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=2108))
- [David H. Moore](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/17) (alderperson): Congratulated the 21st Ward on the project and asked how the department could say funding was definitely coming from a source when award announcements had not yet been made. ([37:28](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=2248))
- [Scott Waguespack](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/32) (alderperson): Explained that the ordinance allows 1868-1878 North Milwaukee Avenue to use a state special assessment property tax incentive for affordable rental housing, under which 20% of units in a 44-unit building would be income-restricted for 30 years, and asked for favorable passage. ([41:52](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=2512))
- [Daniel La Spata](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/1) (alderperson): Asked how many years the proposed intergovernmental agreement with the CHA would last and what prevents Housing Choice Voucher holders from participating in the home modification program without it. ([55:22](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=3322)); Asked to confirm that the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities facilitates the modifications while the funding comes from the CHA. ([56:56](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=3416))
- [Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/48) (alderperson): Asked where the nine home modification projects are located in the city. ([57:55](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=3475))
- [Lamont J. Robinson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/4) (alderperson): Thanked the Department of Planning and Development and the developer for the Cottage Grove project and stated his support. ([1:30:40](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=5440))

### Exchanges between members

- [35:01](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=2101) The chair invited Alderperson Ronnie L. Mosley to speak on the Brainerd Senior Center item.
- [37:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=2253) Alderperson David H. Moore congratulated Alderperson Ronnie L. Mosley on the project before asking about its funding.
- [40:44](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=2444) The chair thanked Alderperson David H. Moore for his question.
- [44:46](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=2686) Alderperson Scott Waguespack thanked the chair for holding the item until he arrived.
- [57:55](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=3475) Alderperson Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth said she appreciated Alderperson Daniel La Spata questions before asking her own.
- [1:30:31](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=5431) The chair invited Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson to speak on the Cottage Grove project.
- [1:30:40](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD?t=5440) Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson thanked the chair before stating his support.

## Documents

- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/127d4a5c-0156-49fe-8a38-82efe9a8c700.pdf)
- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/91f3af73-71f2-4fb8-a591-9ced75341558.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/b7cfecc8-58b3-44ba-92be-29f6b7464572.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/6F0DC0E2-5CAA-EE11-BE36-001DD8094BFD · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt