Heat exhaustion deaths, Regulation of extreme temperatures in apartment buildings, Development
@CHIdocumenters The meeting is set to start at 10 am. You can tune in here: https://livestream.com/accounts/28669066
@CHIdocumenters City Council came on air for about two minutes and were having a heated discussion about recessing until 3 pm. The stream came in and went out mid-argument. I’m not sure who was speaking.
The committee defers the item at 4401-31 S Knox Ave, and moves on to public comment.
Christopher Anderson from Chicago Association of Realtors speaks about the heating and cooling ordinance, and he says it would hurt the renters who would ultimately have to pay through higher rent. He asks the committee to take it slow and work with realtors.
Commissioner Beaudet discusses the proposed amendment which would modify cooling requirements at nursing homes and senior housing facilities.
Chairman Tunney asks if they’ve reached out to interested parties like realtors and building managers and Commissioner Beaudet responds that he’s always happy to work with them as he has done in the past.
Alderman Hopkins talks about how building managers keep the heat on in buildings until June 1 because there is a minimum degree requirement and they don’t want to switch their HVAC system constantly during the month of May as the weather changes frequently.
Alderman Hopkins goes on to say it would be better if there were a grace period for buildings during the months of May and October. He says he only got a copy of the ordinance yesterday, so he will move to defer at the end of the discussion.
Alderman Sigcho-Lopez acknowledges the workload associated with this ordinance, but argues that we should prioritize this due to the urgency of the extreme weather people are dealing with right now. “We need to prioritize the life of our community, especially our seniors.”
Commissioner Matt Beaudet clarifies that under the ordinance, if buildings do not change their system to cool people’s homes in May, the building is required to have a common cooling area for residents.
Alderman Cardona is concerned about this ^^ because many seniors do not have the mobility to get to a common cooling area - especially those most at risk for heat strokes.
Alderwoman Hadden talks about the problem of two pipe systems, which make it hard to switch between heating and cooling, and some buildings’ construction which limits use of window units.
But, Alderwoman Hadden says, this ordinance will improve the quality of life for seniors and will allow the alders to better advocate for their constituents. She admits “there is more work to do” and it will be done in how Chicago continually responds to climate change.
Alderwoman Hadden says she is not comfortable allowing building managers to decide when to turn their heating and cooling on “because time and again we’ve seen them make the wrong choices, and those wrong choices have cost people their lives.”
(Alderman Hopkins had previously said he would be in favor of letting buildings decide when to turn their AC on. Commissioner Beaudet had responded that he would have to check with the Law Department to see if that would be enforceable.)
Alderman Osterman talks about the urgency of the situation, but his connection is awful and his audio keeps cutting out! He talks about older Chicagoans being homebound and not having lobbyists to help them “they have us in the city.”
Alderman Rodriguez comments on how rarely the alders are able to actually respond to a need from immediately and actually save lives. He says we need to acknowledge the loss of our community members.
Alderman Cappleman says facially, he likes the ordinance. He clarifies that the urgent periods of time are October and May, so right now the committee really only has to plan for October at this point. He says it is not as much of a crisis as his colleagues are saying.
Alderman Cappleman: “Is this a lose-lose for landlords?” Commissioner Beaudet: “No.”
Alderman Lopez says the alders who are saying “We need to care about our community members” are being disrespectful and distasteful because they’re trying to make it sound like not everyone cares about Chicagoans.
Alderman Lopez wants to know the state and federal requirements for nursing homes. The law dept and Alderwoman Hadden do not know the federal requirements, but Alderwoman Hadden says IL does have requirements about AC in nursing homes.
Alderman Lopez also wants to know how many buildings will be affected, which Commissioner Beaudet doesn’t know. Lopez is concerned about that because of costs and supply chain problems and the limited timeframe of 23 months.
Alderwoman Pat Dowell is against lowering the minimum temperature from 68 to 64, which Commissioner Beaudet says is meant to give some flexibility to property managers.
Alderwoman Hadden clarifies that that 68-64 reduction is for the months of October and May - and it is still 68 for non senior housing/nursing homes for the entire heating season.
This confusion may be caused by the fact that alders appear to have received the information about this ordinance yesterday 😐
Alders Cappleman, Lopez, and Hopkins have brought up bifurcating the ordinance so that portions everyone agrees on and are most urgent can potentially pass today.
The ordinance has been tabled until the end of the meeting so the bifurcated ordinance can be drawn up and the committee can see it in writing.
The committee has moved onto large signs, and the orders for those signs have all been passed with no discussion.
The next item is a proposed rezoning along S. Halsted by 21st. The rest of the area is commercial zoning and this is simply to create consistency in the area. The item passes without discussion.
The next item is a proposed rezoning in the 22nd ward at 3425 W 31st St. to give better industrial zones for residents of Little Village. The item passes without discussion.
Alderwoman Rodriguez presents a proposed rezoning to allow the property belonging to Electrical Audio, a recording studio, to be in compliance as portions of their property were rezoned as residential in 2000. The proposal passes.
The next item is a request for rezoning at 835 W. Addison for affordable housing in the 44th Ward. This is just a correction on a previous error, and the item passes without discussion.
The next item is a request for rezoning at 1433 N. Fairfield so that the owner can add an additional residential unit. Atty. Ximena Castro says they have met with the community and have Alderman La Spata’s support. The item passes without further discussion.
The next item is a request for rezoning and a split of the zoning lots to demolish a two flat and construct two three-story residential buildings with three residential units in each at 1931-33 South Jefferson . Alderman Sigcho-Lopez speaks in support and the item passes.
The next item is a proposed construction of 3-story building with commercial use on the bottom and 8 residential units on top at a vacant lot at 4225-29 West Madison. Alderman Ervin says this “lot has been vacant forever” and the item passes.
Alderman Ervin interrupts the quick, but dry, flow of the meeting to tell the committee to get some pep in their step!
Steven Friedland presents the proposal to construct a 4-story, 49-unit building commercial space on the bottom at 226-234 E. 51st.
Mr. Friedland presents a proposal to construct a 6-story, 78-unit building and to redevelop the Laramie Bank building with office and commercial uses on behalf of Austin United Alliance Development Company, LLC.
Alderwoman Mitts speaks in support: she says this corridor is an eyesore right now. This project is part of the city’s INVEST South/West initiative.
Alderman Osterman, who has been in a different location every time he has spoken, also supports the project and expresses admiration and congratulations to Alderwoman Mitts for this exciting project. The item passes.
Tyler Manic presents the next item, a proposed rezoning at 2538 S. Troy. He says the remainder of the block has grown to be completely residential and the owner of this building wants to convert the building to housing to fit in with the rest of the block. The item passes.
The next item Mr. Manic presents is a slight adjustment to the mixed use zoning at 215 N. Green. The applicant had to change their building plan due to the soil condition and needs the new plan approved.
Alderman Burnett asks for the committee’s support and notes that it’s not very often that the committee gets a building that will be smaller than they initially thought. The item passes.
Mr. Manic presents the next item on behalf of Sherbel Properties, LLC: a proposed rezoning at 4649 N. Damen. The property was once a commercial district, as the surrounding area is, and the applicant seeks to restore the commercial space on the bottom. The item passes.
Tim Barton presents proposed rezonings regarding bulk requirements at 5824 W. Montrose and 3601 W. Harrison, which pass with no discussion.
Katriina McGuire presents proposed rezoning at 931 W. 19th Street to lower parking. Alderman Sigcho-Lopez speaks in support and the motion passes.
Sara Barnes presents on behalf of Kensington Bucktown Building, LLC, which is a local daycare. They seek to build a three-story daycare facility for children 6 weeks to 5 years old. The item passes.
Block Club Chicago wrote about this proposal in April: https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/04/11/kensington-school-hopes-to-build-expansive-day-care-building-on-damen-avenue-in-bucktown/
Sara Barnes presents another application on behalf of a couple who are proposing to reactivate a vacant site with a 4 story, 4 dwelling residential building. This item is not on the provided agenda, but it is in the 47th Ward. The item passes.
Matthew Allee presents a proposed rezoning at 4200 N. Sacramento on behalf of Chris Kaplan, who’s owned the property for over 50 years. The commercial space used to be a grocery store over 20 years ago, and since Mr. Kaplan has been unable to lease the commercial space.
All of that being said, Mr. Kaplan seeks to convert the space to residential space. The item passes.
Carol Stubblefield presents a requested rezoning at 1956 and 1957 W. 115th on behalf of Metra in order to renovate the train platform.
Alderwoman Austin asks when the Metra station on S. Halsted will be renovated, because it needs improvements (just as this Metra station needs it, she says). The item passes.
Katie Jahnke Dale presents a proposal for construction of a drive through facility with parking spaces at 1967 N. Kingsbury.
Katie Jahnke Dale also presents a proposal for construction of a 30-story building at 210- 220 N. Morgan St. https://t.co/9ziOe18php
Alderman Burnett asks about the affordable housing and Ms. Jahnke Dale says she’s working with the developer on the extra 10%. Ald. Burnett says he encourages 30% affordable housing in the 27th ward, but it will definitely have 20% affordable units. The item passes.
The committee returns to the amendment modifying cooling requirements at nursing homes and senior residential facilities; they all have a substitute amendment which adheres to the discussion they had earlier this morning.
The heating section is removed from what the committee will vote on today so that the committee can take their time with that portion and pass what is needed immediately for the elders in our community.
The committee celebrates the retirement of Steve Valenziano, the Assistant Zoning Administrator of the City of Chicago.
With that, the meeting is adjourned at 1:23 pm! This concludes the Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards Committee meeting. The next meeting date doesn’t appear to be posted. For more meeting coverage, check out http://documenters.org.