The meeting is scheduled to start at 10 am and you can watch live here https://www.chicityclerk.com/

@48Ward just announced the meeting is going to start in a few minutes

Okay, finally the meeting has been called to order and roll has been called.

public comment starts immediately with Kendra Parzen from Landmark Illinois speaking in support of approving Adopt a Landmark funds to Greenstone Church

Minister Roberts Floid Plump next rises to speak to ask if city council will offer any funds to organizations to stop violence.

Retiring Alderman Osterman thanks the committee and many others for their work over the last 4 years since this committee was put together, and they reciprocate.

The committee starts with item 2 on the agenda, regarding the definition of a developer’s “eligibility criteria” within the 2015 Affordable Requirements Ordinance

This ordinance was amended in 2021 and this technical ordinance being considered today will apply 2 features from that 2021 amendment retroactively:

This ordinance was amended in 2021 and this technical ordinance being considered today will apply 2 features from that 2021 amendment retroactively:

The first is widening the income average requirement, previously requiring income averaging at 60% and 50% area median income in order to reach people with greater need.

The second is the family size requirement which will allow more variety in types of units. The ordinance will be sent to the next city council meeting.

The next item is the proposed sale at market value of a set of city properties at 5408 S Dearborn St., 5410 S Dearborn St., 5440 S Dearborn St, 5407 S Federal St, 5419 S Federal St and 5400 S Federal St to Center Court Development LLC for construction of duplexes and townhomes.

This will create over 30 units in the 3rd ward

This project will have 4 affordable units and, of course, “all of these lots are vacant in a community that has been historically divested from.”

@AldermanLaSpata assures everyone he’ll be voting in favor but wants to know if there are any that are multifamily homes. There are several on both Dearborn and Federal.

The item’s approved :)

The next item is the acquisition by DPD of improved or vacant parcels at 3801-3809 W Madison St, 3857-3859 W Madison St, 3851-3855 W Madison St and 3849 W Madison St for public purpose, including the revitalization of W Madison St, all in the 28th ward.

Ernest Bellamy, west side city planner, offers testimony on this item describing the lots and location within Garfield Park

I’m viewing the meeting remotely and it’s just in city council chambers so I find it so odd that the slides aren’t being shown to the viewers at home, but are slides associated with every item.

@AldermanLaSpata “I’m being a nuisance,” he says - raises his hand to quickly ask what the purchase price is and if we know how much we’re paying for it when he doesn’t get an answer. Osterman explains we still have to negotiate to get to that point.

Next item is whether to approve the city entering into negotiations to acquire 3407 W Harrison St and 3409 W Harrison St for conservation designation within the Midwest Redevelopment Project Area Plan

The city owns 3401 W Harrison already, and the goal is to bring a commercial corridor to the area. The item is approved.

The next item is the acquisition agreements of vacant improved property at 3200 W Lake St, 100 N Kedzie Ave, 107-111 N Kedzie Ave and 3148 W Washington Blvd for implementation of Chicago/Central Park Plan, Kinzie Plan and Midwest Plan.

The goal is to encourage redevelopment of the mixed use developments in the 27th and 28th wards, supported by both alders.

The price/acquisition issue from earlier comes back up: the committee can acquire properties without approval from city council and the prices of those lots are available.

Next, the Adopt a Landmark grant funding Agreement with Greenstone United Methodist Church for preservation work, including the bell tower, located at 11211 S. St. Lawrence Ave in the 9th ward.

This is also located within the Pullman Landmark District. We get a little history lesson about the town of Pullman and the Greenstone church. It was meant to add to the appearance of the town by George Pullman

Pastor Luther C. Mason reiterates its history and the excitement about the restoration. The Methodists stood with the workers, created a settlement house during the depression, and have been in the building since i believe the late 1800s.

It could be a million dollar grant! “I will make sure this project is done right and done well and make you proud,” says Pastor Mason. The item is approved and sent to city council.

The next item is the Amendment of 2016 Rush Medical Center Redevelopment Ordinance seeking release from plan, permission to sell land to Fifth Third Arena [Blackhawks] for expansion at 301-339 S Damen Ave, with excess proceeds to the City for community wellness programs…

… including Sankofa Wellness Center. Ald. Osterman says Ald. LaSpata is going to have some questions about this one.

Rush hasn’t been using this land (it’s been vacant for 10 years) but they have been holding up their end of their agreement.

Ald. LaSpata says this project is a win win win for the city and the community and those being served by these facilities.

Ald. Cappleman similarly shares his excitement, and adds a 4th “win” to his description and moves to approve the motion.

Finally the committee circles back to the first item on the agenda: Lease Agreement with Joyner Real Estate LLC for Suite 102 at 217 E Moros St, Springfield, Illinois with common building facilities, for use as City legislative staff space.

The item is passed onto city council.

Alderwoman King again thanks Alderman Osterman for his work and says while he’s looking for something to do during retirement, he might offer a class on how to run a committee. He thanks the committee again, too.

Osterman says he might not teach a class, but he might ride his bike down to Pullman to check out the construction at Greenstone Church. The meeting is adjourned at 11:28 am.

This concludes the Chicago City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate meeting. The next meeting will be announced on the Office of the City Clerk’s website. For more meeting coverage, check out http://documenters.org.