# Committee on Housing and Real Estate meeting, January 7, 2025

- When: Tue, Jan 7, 2025, 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](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/housing-and-real-estate)
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1038698664
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1038698664.txt) (7,653 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 heard five public commenters and approved its December 12, 2024 Rule 45 report. An ordinance on disclosure statement requirements for temporary occupancy agreements was held in committee pending briefings. The committee recommended passage of the city's acquisition of 1751 N. Harlem Avenue for a new Galewood-Montclare Chicago Public Library branch in the 29th Ward, property acquisitions for the Englewood Nature Trail in the 15th and 16th Wards, two adjacent-neighbors land sales, and three ChiBlockBuilder land sales for community open space, including seven lots on East 87th Street for an outdoor performance space run by a neighboring record store in the 7th Ward.

Topics: Library branch acquisition, Englewood Nature Trail, Adjacent Neighbors Land Acquisition Program, ChiBlockBuilder land sales, Community open space, Temporary occupancy agreements, Public comment

### Agenda items discussed

- [32:17](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=1937) Approval of December 12, 2024 Rule 45 report: passed
- [32:41](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=1961) Disclosure statement requirements for temporary occupancy agreements: held
- [33:07](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=1987) Acquisition of 1751 N. Harlem Avenue for the Galewood-Montclare Chicago Public Library branch, 29th Ward (O2024-0014442): passed
- [40:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=2454) Acquisition of various properties for the Englewood Nature Trail project, 15th and 16th Wards (O2024-0013109): passed
- [51:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3078) Sale of city-owned lot at 9424 S. Burnside Avenue under the Adjacent Neighbors Land Acquisition Program, 8th Ward (O2024-0013736): passed
- [52:48](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3168) Sale of city-owned lot at 4136 W. Carroll Avenue under the Adjacent Neighbors Land Acquisition Program, 28th Ward: passed
- [54:43](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3283) ChiBlockBuilder open space sales at 148 S. Hamlin Boulevard and 718-722 W. 60th Place, 28th and 16th Wards: passed
- [58:19](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3499) ChiBlockBuilder sale of lots at 6528-6534 S. Aberdeen Street for a community plaza, 16th Ward (O2024-0013744): passed
- [1:00:11](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3611) ChiBlockBuilder sale of seven lots on East 87th Street for outdoor garden and performance space, 7th Ward (O2024-0013082): passed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Byron Sigcho-López](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/25) (chair): Announced that the temporary occupancy agreement disclosure ordinance would be held in committee while briefings are prepared to answer members' questions. ([32:41](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=1961)); Congratulated the record store owners, Alderperson Gregory I. Mitchell and DPD on the 87th Street project and said the city needs more such projects. ([1:05:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3927))
- [Jeanette B. Taylor](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/20) (alderperson): Asked what the city was purchasing the Harlem Avenue property for and whether it was a new library or a replacement. ([37:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=2238)); Asked whether a feasibility study was done, whether other sites were considered, and whether any vacant city buildings could have been used. ([38:23](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=2303))
- [Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/48) (alderperson): Asked who initiated the Englewood Nature Trail project and called it a wonderful project. ([50:31](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3031)); Congratulated the record store owners and said spaces where people can gather around music and community are needed. ([1:04:41](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3881))
- [Gregory I. Mitchell](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/7) (alderperson): Said the 87th Street project began when the site was in the 10th Ward, thanked DPD for its diligence, praised the owners and asked for the committee's favorable consideration. ([1:03:17](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3797))
- [Michelle A. Harris](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/8) (alderperson): Said the record store project will help change the trajectory of 87th Street and thanked the owners and the alderperson for supporting it. ([1:04:01](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3841))

### Exchanges between members

- [37:13](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=2233) The chair recognized Taylor for a question on the library acquisition.
- [39:06](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=2346) Taylor thanked the chair after her questions.
- [39:09](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=2349) The chair thanked Taylor.
- [50:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3027) The chair recognized Manaa-Hoppenworth for a question on the Englewood Nature Trail.
- [50:31](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3031) Manaa-Hoppenworth thanked the chair before asking her question.
- [1:03:14](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3794) The chair invited Mitchell to add comments on the 87th Street project.
- [1:04:34](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3874) Harris thanked the local alderperson for supporting the 87th Street project.
- [1:04:41](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3881) Manaa-Hoppenworth thanked the chair before congratulating the project owners.
- [1:05:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0?t=3927) The chair congratulated Mitchell on the 87th Street project.

## Documents

- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/7bcb941a-f0f2-4886-9fab-a2908aa3f0b4.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/df160237-d1c5-4ece-a4c5-baa22ab4ca70.pdf)
- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/149c2c19-00a5-4665-bd37-6aeb5c7d3b1a.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/7C4CE2BB-40BE-EF11-B8E9-001DD8306DF0 · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt