Committee on Housing and Real Estate meeting, October 30, 2023

When: Mon, Oct 30, 2023, 9:00 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
Video: https://vimeo.com/878853896
Transcript: full text (14,302 words, automatic captions)

Video chapters

39:22 Item 1: Acquisition of property at 11414 South Halsted Street from Albertsons (substitute ordinance)
42:35 David H. Moore: Said he was confused that the property tax liability on the Halsted property was not…
43:12 David H. Moore: Asked when the Morgan Commons development first went to DPD and who the developer is.
44:02 David H. Moore: Asked whether details of the development had been provided to members.
45:35 Item 2: Extension of intergovernmental lease with the University of Illinois for the Lower West Side…
48:33 Item 3: Extension of intergovernmental lease with the University of Illinois for the Uptown Neighborhood…
50:43 Item 4: Negotiated sale of vacant fire station at 5349 South Wabash to the Black Fire Brigade
57:16 Gilbert Villegas: Stated his support for the Black Fire Brigade project and its work exposing young African…
58:02 Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez: Supported the fire station sale and expressed interest in connecting the…
1:00:37 Pat Dowell: Supported the Black Fire Brigade sale, citing its violence prevention work and training of young…
1:02:14 Item 5: Intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Park District to transfer former Robert Jackson Park at…
1:04:12 Daniel La Spata: Asked what the city intended to do with the former park property, since lots usually move…
1:04:58 Pat Dowell: Explained that the Robert Jackson play lot is obsolete, that nearby parks are being expanded,…
1:06:09 Item 6: Intergovernmental agreement with the CTA for city parcels and easements for the Red Line Extension
1:25:01 Pat Dowell: Asked the CTA to seek state legislation allowing transit TIF revenue not needed for the Red Line…
1:32:58 Anthony Beale: Said the Red Line Extension has had extensive community engagement over decades and that…
1:34:15 Anthony Beale: Said special legislation on remaining transit TIF funds was not needed because increment…
1:35:29 Item 7: Sale of city-owned property on West Madison Street to Garfield Park Wellness Support Corporation for…
1:39:40 Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth: Asked how the Sankofa Wellness Center would benefit the neighborhood and how art…
1:43:02 Department of Housing five-year plan 2023 second-quarter report
2:04:21 Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth: Asked about SRO preservation, citing concern that residents in the 48th Ward could…
2:05:30 Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth: Said the homeownership numbers in the housing trust were lower than hoped and asked…

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 with no in-person public speakers and three written comments, all supporting the Red Line Extension item. After approving the Rule 45 report, the committee recommended passage of seven ordinances: a substitute for the city's acquisition of a donated property at 11414 South Halsted (with Alderperson David H. Moore recorded voting no pending property tax information), two lease extensions with the University of Illinois for neighborhood health clinics, the $1 sale of the former Engine 61 fire station to the Black Fire Brigade, an intergovernmental agreement with the Park District for a former pocket park, an intergovernmental agreement transferring 46 city-owned parcels to the CTA for the Red Line Extension, and a land sale for the Sankofa Wellness Center in West Garfield Park. Members raised questions about property taxes, replacement parkland, use of remaining transit TIF funds and project oversight. The committee also heard the Department of Housing's 2023 second-quarter report on its five-year housing plan.

Topics: Red Line Extension, land acquisition, fire station reuse, health clinic leases, park land transfer, transit TIF, affordable housing plan, SRO preservation, homeownership programs, Sankofa Wellness Center

Agenda items discussed

38:56 Rule 45 report: passed
39:22 Item 1: Acquisition of property at 11414 South Halsted Street from Albertsons (substitute ordinance): passed
45:35 Item 2: Extension of intergovernmental lease with the University of Illinois for the Lower West Side Neighborhood Health Clinic at 1713 South Ashland: passed
48:33 Item 3: Extension of intergovernmental lease with the University of Illinois for the Uptown Neighborhood Health Clinic at 845 West Wilson: passed
50:43 Item 4: Negotiated sale of vacant fire station at 5349 South Wabash to the Black Fire Brigade: passed
1:02:14 Item 5: Intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Park District to transfer former Robert Jackson Park at 4319 South Indiana: passed
1:06:09 Item 6: Intergovernmental agreement with the CTA for city parcels and easements for the Red Line Extension: passed
1:35:29 Item 7: Sale of city-owned property on West Madison Street to Garfield Park Wellness Support Corporation for the Sankofa Wellness Center: passed
1:43:02 Department of Housing five-year plan 2023 second-quarter report: discussed

Alderpersons who spoke

David H. Moore (alderperson): Said he was confused that the property tax liability on the Halsted property was not available at the hearing. (42:35); Asked when the Morgan Commons development first went to DPD and who the developer is. (43:12); Asked whether details of the development had been provided to members. (44:02)
Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Stated his support for the Black Fire Brigade project and its work exposing young African Americans to fire service careers. (57:16)
Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (alderperson): Supported the fire station sale and expressed interest in connecting the organization with community health and mental health crisis response work. (58:02)
Pat Dowell (alderperson): Supported the Black Fire Brigade sale, citing its violence prevention work and training of young first responders. (1:00:37); Explained that the Robert Jackson play lot is obsolete, that nearby parks are being expanded, and that the block is intended for residential infill. (1:04:58); Asked the CTA to seek state legislation allowing transit TIF revenue not needed for the Red Line Extension to return to the districts that generated it, and requested a formal answer. (1:25:01)
Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Asked what the city intended to do with the former park property, since lots usually move from the city to parks rather than the reverse. (1:04:12)
Anthony Beale (alderperson): Said the Red Line Extension has had extensive community engagement over decades and that acquisitions are proceeding smoothly. (1:32:58); Said special legislation on remaining transit TIF funds was not needed because increment returns to taxing bodies when the TIF expires. (1:34:15)
Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Asked how the Sankofa Wellness Center would benefit the neighborhood and how art would be incorporated. (1:39:40); Asked about SRO preservation, citing concern that residents in the 48th Ward could lose affordable housing. (2:04:21); Said the homeownership numbers in the housing trust were lower than hoped and asked how to promote homebuying opportunities. (2:05:30)

Exchanges between members

58:19 Rodríguez Sánchez congratulated Dowell on the fire station project.
1:04:58 Dowell answered La Spata's question about the intended use of the former park property.
1:34:15 Beale responded to Dowell's transit TIF request, saying special legislation was not needed.

Documents

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