Committee on Housing and Real Estate

Summary

This ordinance corrects a previous publication error from November 7, 2023, regarding the acquisition of property at 11414 S Halsted St from Albertsons LLC. The corrected ordinance confirms the City's acceptance of the donation of this approximately 6.5-acre property (improved with a 67,797 sq ft commercial building) for public purposes. Crucially, the property is to be donated by October 31, 2024, to the Far South Community Development Corporation for redevelopment as the Morgan Park Commons mixed-use project. The City will expedite zoning and permitting for this development.

Citizen Impact

This action corrects a procedural error and confirms the transfer of the 11414 S Halsted St property for future mixed-use development, potentially impacting neighborhood planning and services.

Confidence

high

Summary

This ordinance and accompanying agreement authorize the dissolution of the Chicago Community Land Trust (Chicago Housing Trust) and its formation as a bureau within the Department of Housing. The City will assume all assets, liabilities, contracts, and responsibilities of the Trust. The goal is to complete this transfer and winding-up of the Trust's corporate business by December 31, 2025. An advisory board, initially composed of current CHT board members, will be established to advise the Commissioner of Housing.

Citizen Impact

Residents will see the Chicago Community Land Trust's functions integrated directly into the Department of Housing, potentially streamlining services related to long-term housing affordability.

Confidence

high

Summary

The City Council is considering a renewed and amended lease agreement with L.F.L. Properties, Inc. for the property at 4310 W North Ave. This property is currently used as the Trina Davila Community Center and is leased by the Department of Family and Support Services. The proposed amendment extends the lease term from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2035. The monthly rent will increase incrementally from $8,166.77 in 2026 to $9,760.05 by 2035.

Citizen Impact

Residents will continue to have access to the Trina Davila Community Center as the lease for the facility at 4310 W North Ave is being extended for another ten years, with a gradual increase in rental costs.

Confidence

high

Summary

The City Council is considering a renewed and amended lease agreement with 4615 Homer LLC for property located at 4615-19 West Homer Street. The original lease, which began on July 1, 2018, and was set to expire on December 31, 2024, has been extended. The new agreement will extend the term of the lease through December 31, 2029, with an option for a five-year extension until December 31, 2034. The property is used by the City's Department of Streets and Sanitation and includes office, garage/warehouse, loading dock, parking, and salt station space. Monthly rent will increase incrementally from $11,902.18 in 2025 to $13,923.86 in 2029, with further increases during the potential extension period.

Citizen Impact

This agreement will continue the City's use of the 4615 W Homer St facility for the Department of Streets and Sanitation, with increased monthly rent payments over the next five years.

Confidence

high

Summary

The City Council is considering the second amendment to a right-of-entry agreement with the Columbia Yacht Club. This amendment will renew the club's access to a City-owned parking lot located under the northbound lanes of S DuSable Lake Shore Drive, north of E Randolph St. The agreement has been extended multiple times, with the previous amendment expiring on May 31, 2025. This second amendment extends the term until May 31, 2026, with a use fee of $26,683.52 for the extended period.

Citizen Impact

This action renews access for Columbia Yacht Club members to a specific parking lot, with no direct impact on general public parking or city services.

Confidence

high

Summary

The City Council is considering the sale of a city-owned property located at 515 E Bowen Ave to Landex Holding Company LLC for $90,000. The buyer plans to construct a three-unit, three-bedroom/two-bathroom masonry building with a three-space surface parking lot. The property's market value was assessed at $86,840, and the estimated project cost is $860,582. The sale is contingent on the buyer obtaining necessary permits and finalizing construction plans, with a 60-day closing period after ordinance approval.

Citizen Impact

This sale will result in the development of new housing units on a currently vacant city-owned lot.

Confidence

high

Summary

The City Council is approving the sale of city-owned vacant land located at 4018 South Ellis Avenue to the 4020 S. Ellis Condominium Association for $54,313. The property's market value was assessed at $65,000 in October 2021. The purchase price reflects a credit for the buyer's costs incurred for a Limited Phase II Environmental Site Assessment, which did not identify contamination above residential remediation objectives. The sale is subject to covenants requiring the property to be improved and maintained with landscaped open space within five years, and prohibits permanent improvements without city consent. Public notices for the sale were posted from October 1-31, 2025, and no alternative proposals were received.

Citizen Impact

This sale will return a vacant city-owned lot to private ownership for landscaped open space, with conditions for maintenance and improvement for the next five years.

Confidence

high

Summary

The City Council is considering the sale of city-owned vacant land at 514-516 E 50th Street to Walton Street Builders, LLC. The approximately 1,067 square foot parcel, referred to as the 'Rear Lot', is valued at $28,773.84 and is intended to provide alley access and parking for the adjacent Grantee Property. Environmental sampling in 2022 identified contamination, so the sale will include a deed restriction with construction and use limitations. Public notices were issued from October 1-31, 2025, and no alternative proposals were received.

Citizen Impact

This sale will return a vacant city-owned lot to private ownership for development, potentially improving the immediate area, but includes deed restrictions due to identified environmental contamination.

Confidence

high

Summary

The City Council is considering the sale of two city-owned properties located at 6118 and 6122 S Stewart Ave to Rita Woodard. The properties, totaling 2,891 square feet, are being sold as part of the ChiBlockBuilder program for neighborhood side yards. The purchase price is $1,012.00, which is 10% of the assessed market value. The sale is subject to a deed restriction requiring the property to be improved as a landscaped side yard and maintained for a minimum of five years.

Citizen Impact

This sale allows a private resident, Rita Woodard, to purchase city-owned land for $1,012.00 to be used as a landscaped side yard, with conditions on its use for five years.

Confidence

high

Summary

The City Council is approving a multi-step land transaction to facilitate the development of the Chicago Torture Justice Memorial. Initially, the City will exchange its vacant 3,971 sq ft property at 5413 S. Calumet Avenue (appraised at $23,826) with Lake Park Associates, Inc. (LPA) for LPA's vacant 4,350 sq ft property at 5526 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (appraised at $43,500).

Subsequently, the City will combine the newly acquired 5526 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive parcel with three existing City-owned properties (5520, 5532, and 5538 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive) to form a Development Property totaling approximately 24,204 sq ft, with an appraised value of $277,981. This combined property will be sold to the Chicago Torture Justice Memorials Foundation for a nominal $4.00 (one dollar per parcel).

The Foundation plans to construct a memorial site honoring victims of abuse by the Chicago Police Department, aligning with the Washington Park Redevelopment Plan. The project has a preliminary construction budget of $4,695,488. The Developer is required to apply for governmental approvals within 180 days of the ordinance, commence construction within six months of closing, and complete it within 36 months of commencement. Significant environmental remediation is required on the Development Property, with the Developer bearing all costs and needing to obtain a "No Further Remediation" letter from the IEPA before project completion. Public notices for these transactions were published in April 2025, and no alternative proposals were received.

Citizen Impact

This action directly enables the creation of the Chicago Torture Justice Memorial in the Washington Park community, providing a significant site for public remembrance and healing. Residents will benefit from the environmental cleanup of the development site, which currently has contamination above residential standards. The project is situated within a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Redevelopment Area, aiming to leverage private investment for community revitalization.

Confidence

high

Summary

The City Council is considering an ordinance (O2025-0020506) to transfer city-owned property located at 8385 S Birkhoff Ave/8319 S Vincennes Ave to the Chicago Park District. This property is currently part of Mahalia Jackson Park (#386) and was previously approved for transfer by the Board of Education on December 5, 2018. The property will be conveyed in its "AS IS-WHERE IS" condition for park purposes.

Citizen Impact

This transfer will formalize the ownership of parkland to the Chicago Park District, ensuring its continued use for recreational purposes by residents.

Confidence

high