Lighthouse residences for blind people, police settlements, Lincoln Park Covent SRO, Roosevelt Square ABLA homes
Some highlights: the commissioners will be discussing affordable housing proposals, hotel acquisition and deconversion, and lots of TIFs. Check out the agenda here: https://chicago.documenters.org/documents/agenda-68876/
Finance Chair Alder Waguespack is going thru TEFRA hearings about items on the agenda. TEFRA is the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which is required by the IRS when non-profit borrowers intend to issue tax-exempt debt for projects.
The hearing is held to allow members of the public to comment, contest, oppose, or support the use of tax-exempt bonds for a non-profit borrower that is providing a public benefit.
This applies to a couple agenda items, which’ll be discussed at length later on. The TERFA hearings seems like a bureaucratic formality. Waguespack has to do a rollcall after each item in order to determine there’s quorum. “Nick Sposato is still here,” the alder says when called.
Now we’re on to the actual agenda, first up is a hotel conversation to an SRO in Lincoln Park. In a neighborhood where the median income is just under $100,000, this is incredibly exciting. https://t.co/jgIvRGxEpn
The developer, New Covent LLC is asking for $5 million in assistance. The SRO will have 30 residential affordable units, which will take project based voucher from the CHA.
Next is a proposal for a brand new affordable housing devlpmt for the visually impaired in the Medical District on Roosevelt & Wood. This will be the first of its kind specifically for blind ppl. Residents will be close to transit & can work at the Lighthouse callcenter next door https://t.co/efyYLpmOry
Next is a proposal to provide $$ assistance & transfer city-owned property to Roosevelt Square Affordable !, LLC to construct 222 new units & rehab 184 units–all affordable. Some of tese are CHA replacement units, some are affordable and market rate. https://t.co/GkDEXt51Pg
This is part of the CHA Plan for Transformation, which aldr Jason Ervin comments on: “These CHA Transformation plans have been going on for 25 years, it’s about time to bring people back to their neighborhoods where they were displaced from.”
Also part of the item includes the development the National Public Housing Museum at 919-925 South Ada Street in Little Italy, which is exciting for nerds like me, but the commissioners don’t discuss this part of it.
Next is a proposal regarding a redevelopment at 63rd and Maryland in Woodlawn for a multifam all affordable housing development.
It’s getting $5mil from TIFs, and city owned land for $1, but the project will cost $36 mil total.
@AldermanBurnett remarks that the CHA did not fund this bc this is not an ‘opportunity area.’ “But development brings development,” says Burnett, “and I hope it will be considered an opportunity area soon. Every vacant lot in the city needs to be filled.”
There will a live-work space as well as commercial retail.
Alderman Sposato says, “I feel like I’m in the happy committee today. Truly today is a happy day for the city and all of my colleagues. Congrats to Alderman Jeanette Taylor.” https://t.co/x0mU3wL8PN
@taylorfor20th joined the call to comment on the development, but we’re having trouble with the audio.
Next is a proposal from the Chicago Park District asking for $135,000 of TIFs for improvements to the Bickerdike Square Park on Ohio and Ashland.
They’ll use the money for a new water service for the gardeners who maintain the garden there. https://t.co/ZqbLyG029h
Next, another Park District official is asking for $350,000 in TIF funds to renovate and construct a new comfort station at Metcalfe Park on 41st and S State Street in the 3rd Ward.
Alderman Dowell says she’s embarrassed by this comfort station. She says it’s been around for at least 25 years. Happy to invest. All the commissioners approve the proposed ordinance except for Ray Lopez. https://t.co/l3sW7o17nT
Another Park District request for $800,000 in TIF funds for improvements & renovations at Burnside Park, at 94th & S. Greenwood Ave.
This park is very busy and has no restroom. They’re gunna get a new spray feature, resurface the basketball courts, & improve the baseball field. https://t.co/CDWI0QoSL2
Next, the Park District is asking for $3.5 mil to cover the CHA’s inability to meet the end of their deal to construct a recreation center & playing field at Addams/Medill Park on 14th and Loomis st. Asking for funding this way was their solution. https://t.co/TlrppjHlEY
Next, the Park District is asking for $650,000 for improvements at Fernwood Park including the pool house, tuck pointing, and replacement of the heating system and other mechanical improvements.
The par is located at 10436 South Wallace Street in Roseland.
“At one time this was one of the city’s premier parks, but it’s fallen into disaray,” says 34th Ward Ald Carrie Austin. “We want to restore it to its former glory.”
Alderman Ervin says that this park is iconic on the south side. https://t.co/kVX3lGEbCv
Next item is from the DPD regarding the provision of $3.46million TIF funds for the Park District to renovate the field house at Clarendon Park near Montrose in Uptown. This is just to help balance the $11mil budget from DPD.
Ald. Cappleman says that this will save the city $$.
Next is the supplemental agenda. Attorney Mimi Ruth is presenting a wrongful death case for the Mccomb family, who is asking there city for $1.4 mil settlement, involving a CPD motor vehicle pursuit on July 11, 2017, resulting in the death of an infant.
An aviation officer saw Anton Watkins step into his red Toyota after hearing shots and called it in to the police. 4 cops pursued him and caravanned, which is illegal, at point clocking 87mph at University Ave and 63rd at 1:50pm.
Plantiffs say there’s a prohibition on caravaning, and also vans are not allowed to pursue. The pursuit lacked supervised authority, the attorney says, & should have been terminated.
In the end, Watkins attempted to turn left, struck a light pole and a baby carriage, killing him.
Wilson spent 4 and a half yrs in prison. He is not financially able to contribute to the restitution for the family.
The committee approves the $1.4 mil settlement.
Next, attorney Caroline Fronczak is looking to settle with the city for $160M for CPD excessive force against 5 individuals at the Brickyard Mall in Belmont Craigan on the Northwest side during the uprising in 2020. A single mother in her 30s is blind in one eye because of it.
Officers surrounded the vehicle, smashing it’s windows with their batons, and dragged Mia Wright out of the car by her hair. Wright was initially charged with disorderly conduct, but prosecutors dropped those charges in Sept 2020.
3 officers involved were stripped of their powers powers while the Civilian Office of Police Accountability investigated.
Sposato, Ray Lopez, and 2nd Ward Alder Brian Hopkins are saying that they will vote no on this bc of rumors that 1 of the people in the car was related to the looting at the mall that day.
Atty. Fronczak is saying this is not true. The COPA investigation is complete.
No hammers, looted materials, or any paraphilnelia were found in the car. The young man did not fit the description of anyone who was seen looting that day.
Mia Wright’s loss of vision is due to PTSD, and is called “functional neurological disorder blindness.” 29th Ward Ald Chris Taliaferro says that he lost complete vision for a period of time as well due to stress and understands how serious this is.
Ald Taliaferro asks the attorney “If we took this case to trial, instead of settling today, what percentage would you say the city is likely to win in that trial?”
Attorney says 5-10%.
These are two videos that the attorney showed to demonstrate what happened that day. Content warning, police brutality. https://t.co/Cr7nGvrY5T