Committee on Housing and Real Estate meeting, July 8, 2026
- When: Wed, Jul 8, 2026, 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=1208145395
- Transcript: full text (24,247 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 seven public commenters, approved its Rule 45 report, and held a subject matter hearing on the Flexible Housing Pool, where presenters asked for an additional $2 million in city funding for 2027 to keep 64 at-risk households housed. The committee recommended passage of Alderperson Matthew J. Martin substitute ordinance on Department of Housing reporting, construction change orders and occupancy approvals for affordable housing developments. It also recommended a unit of local government agreement with HUD for the Hearts United Phase 2 (Quincy) properties in the 4th Ward and the sale and transfer of the Heritage Woods senior living facility in the 27th Ward. The committee then recommended passage of a series of city-owned land sales under the Chi Block Builder and Missing Middle programs, a Morgan Park Commons land sale, and a land exchange with the CTA for the One Lawndale Recreational Center.
Topics: Flexible Housing Pool, homelessness, affordable housing process reform, HUD foreclosure, senior housing, Chi Block Builder land sales, Missing Middle infill housing, side yard sales, CTA land exchange, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 18:25 Public comment
- 39:39 Rule 45 report for June 10, 2026 meeting and June 29, 2026 subject matter hearing: passed
- 40:11 Subject matter hearing on the Flexible Housing Pool program: discussed
- 59:12 Substitute ordinance amending Municipal Code Chapter 2-44 adding Section 2-44-170 on affordable housing development requirements (Alderperson Matthew J. Martin): passed
- 1:11:21 Local government agreement with HUD regarding foreclosure of Hearts United Phase 2 parcels in Bronzeville and reconveyance to Ventus Quincy LLC, 4th Ward: passed
- 1:32:35 Sale and transfer of Heritage Woods Senior Living Facility, 2800-2822 West Fulton Street, to High Point Residence Chicago West Realty LLC, 27th Ward (substitute): passed
- 1:39:21 Sale of city-owned side yard lots to various buyers under Chi Block Builder: passed
- 1:47:14 Sale of city-owned property at 11414 South Halsted Street to Far South CDC for Morgan Park Commons, 21st Ward: passed
- 1:53:02 Sale of city-owned property at 419 East 50th Street to Click Development LLC, 20th Ward: passed
- 1:56:58 Sale of city-owned property at 4242-4246 South St. Lawrence Avenue to Landex Holding Company LLC, 4th Ward: passed
- 2:00:28 Sale of city-owned property at 4306 West Chamberlain Avenue, 36th Ward: passed
- 2:04:47 Intergovernmental agreement with the CTA to exchange 3925 West Cermak Road for city-owned parcels in the 22nd, 24th and 37th Wards: passed
- 2:08:54 Sale of city-owned property at 3643 South Martin Luther King Drive, 4th Ward: passed
- 2:11:25 Sale of city-owned property at 4222 South Langley Avenue to Trimatch Partners LLC, 4th Ward: passed
- 2:13:37 Sale of city-owned property on West Jackson Boulevard to True Delta LLC under Missing Middle Infill Housing Initiative, 28th Ward: passed
- 2:18:19 Sale of city-owned property to Citizens Building a Better Community LLC under Missing Middle Infill Housing Initiative, 28th Ward: passed
- 2:27:10 Sale of city-owned property on West 34th Place to M3 Chicago LLC under Missing Middle Infill Housing Initiative, 12th Ward: passed
- 2:30:57 Sale of city-owned property at 4903 South Forrestville Avenue to CentreCourt Development LLC, 4th Ward (substitute): passed
- 2:37:00 Sale of city-owned property at 3719 South Giles Avenue to Crown Construction Company, 3rd Ward: passed
- 2:42:32 Sale of city-owned property at 4223 South Calumet Avenue to Crown Construction Company, 3rd Ward: passed
- 2:47:46 Sale of city-owned property at 4256 South St. Lawrence Avenue, 4th Ward: passed
- 2:53:59 Sale of city-owned property at 48 North Pine Avenue to West Side Health Authority, 29th Ward: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Byron Sigcho-López (chair): Said he would follow up on budget questions raised during the Flexible Housing Pool hearing and thanked the advocates. (56:30)
- Maria E. Hadden (alderperson): Said the resolution was brought forward to support housing tools that are effective and efficient, noting the city is the largest funder of the Flexible Housing Pool. (41:17); Said the city spends $6 million a year, which supports 188 of 251 enrolled households, and that an additional $2 million is needed in 2027 to keep 64 households from returning to homelessness. (42:40)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Cited an earlier Inspector General audit showing the program's success and asked what funding would be needed to expand the Flexible Housing Pool, not just sustain it. (52:05); Argued that housing people is less expensive than other ways of addressing instability and asked presenters to share a stretch funding goal through the chair. (54:01); Asked how tenant protections, including a right to return after rehab, are secured in the Quincy transaction and said a look-up of the selected developer gave him pause. (1:25:31)
- Pat Dowell (alderperson): Asked how much Cook County contributes to the Flexible Housing Pool and whether it is being asked for more. (55:17); Asked about state funding for the program and its total budget. (56:57); Asked the Quincy developers whether their in-house property management has live staff answering tenant calls. (1:25:09)
- Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Said stakeholders consistently reported administrative delays that raise affordable housing costs, and described the ordinance's three parts: public performance reporting, a change order framework, and removing a duplicative occupancy approval. (1:00:48); Said the ordinance does not eliminate oversight and was substantially revised after talks with the Departments of Housing and Law. (1:02:48); Listed provisions removed from the original version, including design limits, set turnaround times, a deemed approval provision and the notice to proceed change. (1:03:34)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Asked who currently owns the Quincy properties and how often HUD pursues foreclosures. (1:20:37); Asked the Ventas principals about their experience and whether they use minority, women or veteran-owned businesses or only in-house construction. (1:22:47); Asked the Department of Housing for a list of all housing providers it works with. (1:30:20)
- Lamont J. Robinson (alderperson): Said he supports the Quincy transaction to keep affordable housing in the 4th Ward and is concerned the property could otherwise go to an owner that would not keep it affordable. (1:30:42)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Thanked the Department of Housing but said the requirement for council approval of the sale delayed the Heritage Woods transfer by up to six months even though the city is being repaid. (1:37:26)
- Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Congratulated the DPD planner on her promotion and thanked Far South CDC for its work on Morgan Park Commons. (1:52:11)
- Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Said the Jackson Boulevard cluster is the first Missing Middle project moving forward in Garfield Park and was well received at a community charrette. (2:17:07); Said Missing Middle homes must be owner-occupied for about five years and described how city land in the Fifth City area was acquired for a court building that was never built. (2:24:42)
Exchanges between members
- 40:54 The chair gave the floor to Alderperson Maria E. Hadden to open the Flexible Housing Pool hearing.
- 44:02 The chair thanked Alderperson Maria E. Hadden for her opening remarks.
- 55:12 The chair thanked Alderperson Daniel La Spata for his questions.
- 56:08 The chair thanked Alderperson Pat Dowell for her questions.
- 58:20 The chair thanked Alderperson Pat Dowell after her follow-up questions.
- 1:00:05 The chair gave the floor to Alderperson Matthew J. Martin to present his ordinance.
- 1:00:07 Alderperson Matthew J. Martin thanked the chair for placing the item on the agenda.
- 1:06:57 The chair thanked Alderperson Matthew J. Martin for clarifying the late changes.
- 1:11:04 The chair thanked and congratulated Alderperson Matthew J. Martin after the vote.
- 1:25:06 The chair thanked Alderperson Gilbert Villegas for his questions.
- 1:30:36 The chair invited Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson to speak on the Quincy item in his ward.
- 1:30:42 Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson thanked the chair and colleagues for their questions.
- 1:37:23 The chair invited Alderperson Walter R. Burnett to speak on the Heritage Woods item in his ward.
- 1:39:06 The chair thanked Alderperson Walter R. Burnett for the context he provided.
- 1:51:59 The chair invited Alderperson Ronnie L. Mosley to comment on the Morgan Park Commons project in his ward.
- 1:52:32 Alderperson Ronnie L. Mosley addressed Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez by name, noting he had brought the project back to council.
- 2:04:08 The chair invited Alderperson Gilbert Villegas to comment on the Chamberlain Avenue sale in his ward.
- 2:17:03 The chair invited Alderperson Jason C. Ervin to speak on the Missing Middle project in his ward.
- 2:24:42 Alderperson Jason C. Ervin responded to Alderperson Gilbert Villegas question about affordability by describing the owner-occupancy requirement.
- 2:27:10 The chair thanked Alderperson Jason C. Ervin.