Community Development Commission

Chicago Community Development Commission
Development

Chicago, IL 60602 (Directions)

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Parker Valentine

Michael Reese Hospital site GRIT redevelopment, Lots for Working Families

Live reporting by Mallory Cheng

Michael Reese Hospital site GRIT redevelopment, Lots for Working Families

mallory cheng @mallorycheng_
At 1PM CST, I'll be live-tweeting The Community Development Commission for #ChiDocumenters @CHIdocumenters

They review requests for land proposals, land sales & redevelopment in TIF districts. Today, they'll review the sale of land of the former Michael Reese Hospital to GRIT

12:54 PM May 11, 2021 CDT

mallory cheng @mallorycheng_ 2/34
Today's agenda also includes the Chicago Department of Housing's intentions to enter negotiated sale and redevelopment agreements with private groups for land in the 16th, 24th, 27th & 28th wards.

Link to meeting: livestream.com/accounts/28669…
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More information about the redevelopment the Micheal Reese from @wttw: news.wttw.com/2021/04/06/tea….
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The meeting started at 1:06PM, about 31 people are in attendance. Meeting minutes from April 20, 2021 were approved.

No written comment. There are 9 public commentors regarding the Bronzeville Redevelopment Project Area (Ward 4).
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First up the 9 public commentors about the Bronzeville Redevelopment Project Area:
- Marie Reynolds, a 4th Ward resident since 2003, "As a community member, I'm wondering what's been taking so long...it's been over 10 years"
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-Akeem Anderson is excited about the redevelopment, esp as a homeowner
-David Rudd supports the Bronzeville Lakefront Plan, esp as a small business owner to support minority & women business owners
-David Winters supports the GRIT team's goal to incorporate the community input
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All remaining 5 public speakers all support the Bronzeville Redevelopment Project.
One speaker emphasized, "we need to keep Bronzeville, bronze" to support the neighborhood's residents to grow and build generational wealth & another said, "We deserve to be a part of this growth"
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Terrance Johnson from @ChicagoDPD is presenting with the GRIT team.

Up to this point, GRIT has participated in multiple community meetings since 2016. This redevelopment will take up to 10-20 years to fully complete.

DPD recommends the commission to approve the land sale. https://t.co/XCzkuIdcvh
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Ald Sophia King (47th Ward) voiced support of the Bronzeville Lakefront Project.

Floor opens for questions--
Commissioner Leslie Davis asked: What conversations on infrastructure are happening?
Ald King: We've talked about widening bike lanes&sidewalks for increased traffic
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Secretary Gwendolyn Butler: Could GRIT or DPD talk about the phasing of the development?
Scott Goodman, from GRIT: Hopeful to get city approval sometime this summer & "dig up dirt". Hopeful to open the first building by 2023-early 2024. The senior residence planned to open 2024
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Goodman: A portion of affordable housing is planned to open in 2025. Intended to build affordable housing (both senior housing & non-senior housing) and market rate housing at the same time.
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Ald King: It's been taking a considerable amount of time bc of continued community input, "the community has been asking the same type of questions."

Commissioner Latesha Thomas asked on infrastructure: Will the infrastructure be first? What is the timing?
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David Doig, GRIT: Planning to do it first, hopeful for later Fall 2021, starting on 31st Street and working towards the north part of the site
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Commissioner Adela Cepeda: Is there any Latino participation in this development?
Scott Goodman, GRIT: There absolutely will be, "there isn't anyone of Hispanic heritage" on the team right now on the ownership structure
Ciere Boatright: We have been intentional, to exceed the %
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*Ciera Boatright.
Cepeda: "We should have that right up front...I would be saying this too if there weren't any African-Americans on this"
Butler: The point is the ownership doesn't reflect the demographics of Chicago
Goodman: These are general partners, and looking to open up
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Commissioner Jorge Perez: "I agree with Commissioner Cepeda...this is a teachable moment [to be equitable at the start]...you've had 4 years to plan this...if you don't have equity or diversity you don't have real inclusion, especially as Hispanics are the growing demographics"
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DPD Commissioner Maurice Cox: "The CDC is starting to become my favorite commission to sit on...why not break further ground on diversity, equity & inclusion..."
Goodman: "I know it doesn't matter what I say now, but what you'll see 2-3 years from now...it's a priority of ours"
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Goodman: "Remember this conversation, and we will continue this"
Perez: "Remember: without diversity & equity, there's no inclusion"
Commissioner Michael Scott Jr: very supportive of Ald King & knows she will follow-up on diversity concerns with communities of color
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Commissioner Jorge Perez called to vote on negotiated sale with GRIT. The motion passed and is carried, with Commissioner Cepeda voting "no."
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Next -- the Department of Housing (DOH) requesting intention to enter a City Lots for Working Families sale & redevelopment with GMP Development, LLC in the 24th Ward. The developments will be 2-3 bedroom homes. After receiving City approval, the construction will start Fall 2021 https://t.co/4qiWLLsJZA
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Ald Michael Scott, Jr: "We're trying to jumpstart affordable housing for residents"
Ald Walter Burnett: supports Ald Scott, and wants to do the same thing, "it's unfortunate that affordable housing is market rate for these neighborhoods"
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Commissioner Butler: Will this serve as the nucleus and to continue similar developments across the ward?
Ald Scott, Jr: There is a 2nd & 3rd phase of this with other partners and developers in the ward. They will be back to present this soon
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Ald Scott, Jr: "I believe if you build it, people will come [to the neighborhood]"
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Commissioner Perez pushed for vote. The motion was approved and passed.
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Next item -- the DOH intention to enter the City Lots for Working Families redevelopment agreement with Nath Construction in the 27th and 28th Ward, primarily focused on single-family & 2-unit homes. They hope to start construction in the Fal of 2021 https://t.co/A67gQlIie5
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Commissioner Perez pushed for a motion to vote. The redevelopment agreement was approved.
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Final item -- DOH requesting authority to enter a negotiated sale with Keith B Key Enterprises, LLC in the Englewood Redevelopment Area in the 16th Ward. This is along 61st & Halsted Street

This will be 5 stories tall with 56 units & commercial spaces
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Some of the images of the rendering: https://t.co/IiARrUoFnx
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Commissioner Butler: How has this developer done projects like this before? Did they have a similar capital stack?
Tisha Germany, KBK Enterprises: Has done similar sized projects in Pennslyvania, Louisiana, Ohio. Some with affordable housing and some with all market housing
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Butler: Why Chicago? What brought you here?
Germany: We're very interested, esp as a minority-developer, to help communities who look like us. Been interested to work in Chicago for the last 15 years
Butler: How many elevators will there be?
Germany: I think 2 now
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Commissioner Thomas: Is the residential entrance on Halsted or 61st Street?
Germany: The residential entrance is on Halsted facing residential opening, the commercial entrance is on the opposite corner by Halsted/Halsted Parkway
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Commissioner Newsome: Are there any parking spaces for the commercial/retail tenants?
Commissioner Cox: At this time, uncertain if this is appropriate for retail, and is now labeled as "community space" -- There is a question of how much retail this community can absorb
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Cox (continued): Uncertain at this time if parking is needed to be designated for this space.

Commissioner Perez motioned for a vote. The vote passes.
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Meeting adjourned at 3:39PM. This concludes the Community Development Commission meeting.

The next meeting is scheduled for June 8, 2021

For more meeting coverage, check out documenters.org!

Agency Information

Chicago Community Development Commission

chicago.gov

@ChicagoDPD

See Documenters reporting

The Community Development Commission (CDC) was established by the Chicago City Council in 1992 to assume the duties of the former Commercial District Development Commission and the Department of Urban Renewal. The CDC reviews and recommends action on the provision of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to assist private redevelopment projects; the designation of new TIF districts and Redevelopment Areas; the sale of City-owned property located in TIF districts and Redevelopment Areas; and the appointment of members to Community Conservation Councils.

Video recordings of past meetings are posted by the Chicago Department of Planning and Development on Youtube.

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