# Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development meeting, February 11, 2025

- When: Tue, Feb 11, 2025, 12:30 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: Room 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Adjourned
- Committee: [Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/economic-capital-and-technology-development)
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928495/video/1055675376
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1055675376.txt) (5,009 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 Economic, Capital and Technology Development, chaired by Alderperson Gilbert Villegas, tested electronic quorum voting on tablets and allowed remote participation. It recommended approval of appointments in the wards of Alderpersons Hopkins and Reilly and five Class 6B property tax incentives presented by the Department of Planning and Development: new incentives for a central kitchen at 4209 W. Lawrence Ave. (39th Ward) and Dearborn Denim's headquarters at 4901 W. Arlington St. (24th Ward), and renewals for Testa Produce at 4555 S. Racine Ave. (15th Ward), the Top Web printing plant on North Northwest Highway (45th Ward) and an industrial property at 4221 N. Normandy Ave. (38th Ward). Local alderpersons expressed support for the projects in their wards.

Topics: Class 6B tax incentives, industrial rehabilitation, job creation, appointments, electronic voting

### Agenda items discussed

- [10:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/9D294466-CAD8-EF11-8EEA-001DD8306DF0?t=615) Motion to allow members to participate remotely under Rule 59: passed
- [12:11](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/9D294466-CAD8-EF11-8EEA-001DD8306DF0?t=731) Appointments in the wards of Alderpersons Hopkins and Reilly: passed
- [12:44](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/9D294466-CAD8-EF11-8EEA-001DD8306DF0?t=764) Class 6B tax incentive for 4209 W. Lawrence Ave., 39th Ward: passed
- [18:04](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/9D294466-CAD8-EF11-8EEA-001DD8306DF0?t=1084) Class 6B tax incentive for 4901 W. Arlington St. (Dearborn Denim), 24th Ward: passed
- [24:23](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/9D294466-CAD8-EF11-8EEA-001DD8306DF0?t=1463) Class 6B tax incentive renewal for 4555 S. Racine Ave. (Testa Produce), 15th Ward: passed
- [31:25](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/9D294466-CAD8-EF11-8EEA-001DD8306DF0?t=1885) Class 6B tax incentive renewal for 5440-5450 N. Northwest Highway (Top Web), 45th Ward: passed
- [36:24](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/9D294466-CAD8-EF11-8EEA-001DD8306DF0?t=2184) Class 6B tax incentive renewal for 4221 N. Normandy Ave., 38th Ward: passed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Gilbert Villegas](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/36) (chair): Asked whether the completed Dearborn Denim project used minority- and women-owned firms during construction. ([23:09](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/9D294466-CAD8-EF11-8EEA-001DD8306DF0?t=1389)); Asked whether Testa's new owner, Fresh Edge, is headquartered in Chicago. ([29:29](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/9D294466-CAD8-EF11-8EEA-001DD8306DF0?t=1769))
- [Gregory I. Mitchell](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/7) (alderperson): Said he wanted to see who the developer was and was fine with the project as long as the local alderperson supports it. ([17:04](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/9D294466-CAD8-EF11-8EEA-001DD8306DF0?t=1024))
- [Emma Mitts](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/37) (alderperson): Said the Lawrence Avenue developer has done good work on businesses in her area and asked for the committee's support. ([17:20](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/9D294466-CAD8-EF11-8EEA-001DD8306DF0?t=1040))
- [Nicole T. Lee](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/11) (alderperson): Expressed full support for the Testa renewal and thanked the company for continued investment. ([29:13](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/9D294466-CAD8-EF11-8EEA-001DD8306DF0?t=1753))
- [Raymond A. Lopez](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/15) (alderperson): Asked support for the Testa renewal, citing the family business's long history, union workforce with benefits and planned job growth on the Southwest Side. ([29:52](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/9D294466-CAD8-EF11-8EEA-001DD8306DF0?t=1792))
- [Nicholas Sposato](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/38) (alderperson): Said he supports the Normandy Avenue renewal and that the owner has been struggling. ([40:23](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/9D294466-CAD8-EF11-8EEA-001DD8306DF0?t=2423))

## Documents

- [Monthly Rule 45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/d4012b40-d934-4458-8fd1-578b9444638a.pdf)
- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/a0a71768-addc-417c-b16d-8f5cbea64658.pdf)
- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/f0aefcf1-fceb-4d1a-843a-f602d487d18a.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/1a64734f-283d-4816-b61f-6f852cb6a8a4.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/9D294466-CAD8-EF11-8EEA-001DD8306DF0 · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt