[remote or in person] Committee on Housing and Real Estate

Chicago City Council

Housing

Politics

Wednesday, March 5, 2025
12:30 p.m. — 2:30 p.m. CST

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121 N LaSalle St Chicago 60602 (Directions)

City Hall; Council Chambers

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Live reporting by Charlene Rhinehart

The committee passed an amendment for the sale of nine lots on the 3200 and 3300 blocks of West Walnut Street under the City Lots for Working Families program. The committee approved the sale of another nine lots to Firebird Community Arts Support Corporation.

ChicagoSouthsider

Good morning! I'll be live-tweeting today's Chicago City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate meeting today for #CHIdocumenters @CHIdocumenters. The meeting is set to start at 12:30 p.m. and will take place at City Hall.

11:44 AM Mar 5, 2025 CST

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 2/23

@CHIdocumenters @CHIdocumenters These meetings can always be attended in person at City Hall (121 N LaSalle St) or streamed online at chicityclerk.com

chicityclerk.com

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 3/23

@CHIdocumenters @CHIdocumenters The published agenda can be found here: chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Meeting/?meeti…

chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Meeting/?meeti…

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 4/23

@CHIdocumenters The meeting was called to order at 12:43. 8 items on the agenda for today.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 5/23

@CHIdocumenters 1st public comment from Tywon Sims to discuss the reality of homelessness and how dollars should be allocated to benefit this population.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 6/23

@CHIdocumenters 2nd public comment from Melvin Bailey, founder and Exec Director of the Community Male Empowerment Project discusses building more affordable homes on Walnut.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 7/23

@CHIdocumenters 1st order of business: Rule 45 report. Motion to recommend approval by Alder Scott. Rule 45 reports have been approved.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 8/23

@CHIdocumenters 1. Dept of Housing - First amendment to Heritage Pointe II redevelopment agreement for sale of additional lots at 3355, 3353, 3337, 3335, 3333, 3325, 3209, 3207 and 3310 W Walnut St

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 9/23

@CHIdocumenters Brian Odonnell on behalf of the home ownership team from Dept of Housing testify on behalf of the first ordinance discussed.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 10/23

@CHIdocumenters Alder Jason C. Ervin provides more context on how Melvin has rebuilt the community since the days in which Walnut was a hot block for drug trafficking.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 11/23

@CHIdocumenters Alder Quinn passes recommendation. Will be reported out at next council meeting.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 12/23

@CHIdocumenters Item 4 on the agenda: Designation of 1310 S Ashland Ave as Low Affordability Community. Alder Ervin testified. Affordable units that will work in the Illinois Medical District.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 13/23

@CHIdocumenters Alder Ervin, item #4 on the agenda: 70+ units of rental housing available in which 20% will be affordable. This is for those who work and participate in activities in the IMD.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 14/23

@CHIdocumenters Item #8: Substitute ordinance was discussed. Sale of City-owned properties at 3312, 3318, 3320, 3328, 3334, 3336, 3338, 3342 and 3344 W Lake St to Firebird Community Arts under ChiBlockBuilder platform for construction of community arts center.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 15/23

@CHIdocumenters Item #8: Ernest Bellamy in Department of Planning and Development testify on behalf of ordinance. Address: 3312-3344 W Lake Consisting of 9 lots for a sales price of $9 in the 28th Ward (East Garfield Park). Total Dev Cost: $6.7 Mil.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 16/23

@CHIdocumenters Item #8: Proposing a new 12,000 ft artisan manufacturing building on the city-owned vacant land

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 17/23

@CHIdocumenters Item #8. Ernest Bellamy shares site plan and floor plan for 3312-33444 W Lake St. Shows rendering of how Firebird Community Arts would look along W Lake Street and the Firebird Community Arts Garden.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 18/23

@CHIdocumenters Item #8. Design team mentioned that this project would have a September groundbreaking with June 2026 completion.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 19/23

@CHIdocumenters Brief recession at 1:32 while Vice Chair swaps with Chair Alder Lopez.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 20/23

@CHIdocumenters Item #2, Tenant renewed lease agreement with Sticks Chicago LLC for property at 6348 S Archer Ave.Merit Solis from Dept of Fleet testified on ordinance. Property consists of 7,725 square feet of ground floor, Term: 10 years, Annual rent = $280,031.28 Landlord paying all expenses

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 21/23

@CHIdocumenters Item #3, Renewed lease agreement with Sit Stay Read! Inc for use of City property at 2861 N Clark St. (44th Ward) $1.00/year, 1-year lease extension. Merit Solis testified. Term = 1 year, Annual rent = $1.00. This is the administrative office.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 22/23

@CHIdocumenters Item #3, Alder Sposato asked why a 1-year lease with such favorable terms? Solis mentioned they probably will be back at the table next year to discuss this. Sposato asked if they could bring the dogs and Solis noted that she will see what she can do.

ChicagoSouthsider @ChiSouthsider 23/23

@CHIdocumenters Motion to adjourn at 1:40pm.

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Note-taking by Sheila Lewis

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Agency Information

Chicago City Council

chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov

(312) 744-3166

@ChiCouncil

See Documenters reporting

The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago and consists of the Mayor and Aldermen elected from each of the City’s fifty wards. Source

If you attend a meeting in person, be prepared to go through a security checkpoint and show photo ID.

Meetings are also livestreamed at https://www.chicityclerk.com/.

At this link, scroll down to “Meeting Notices.” Look for “Watch now” and click on the link with the meeting title to go to a livestream page. If you don’t see a link for the meeting, you may be early or the meeting may be starting late. Wait a few moments and try refreshing your Internet tab.

Recordings of past City Council meetings may be found here: https://vimeo.com/user100351763/videos/sort:date.

See also: “What to Expect at a Meeting of Chicago’s City Council” via the Better Government Association.