[remote or in person] Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development

Politics

Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024
11:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. CDT

121 N LaSalle St Chicago, IL 60602 (Directions)

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Other notes and pre-research resources

This meeting may involve discussion of Special Service Areas (SSAs), which are hyperlocal taxing districts that are created to fund development and improvement of commercial strips. See a map of SSA districts here: https://data.cityofchicago.org/Community-Economic-Development/Boundaries-Special-Service-Areas/kjav-iyuj
Meeting details page: https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Legislative-Body-Details/?bodyId=D59FC72B-B0D7-EC11-A7B4-001DD804F0C4
Be sure to check the “attachments” tab for the meeting agenda and other documents. You can access more information about items on the agenda at https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/. You can search keywords or click the “Show more filters” button and enter the legislation number (i.e. [O as in Ordinance][year introduced]-####, [R as in Resolution][year introduced]-####).
Chicago Councilmatic: This civic data org’s website has a lot of the information that can be found on the city’s database in a more user-friendly format, with info on this committee, plus headshots of members

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Naeemah Legair

Meeting attendees discussed tax incentive eligibility for the former U.S. Steel South Works site.

View notes

Live reporting by Maureen Dunne

The committee approved various ordinances related to tax levies for Special Service Areas (SSAs) and to the creation of new SSAs.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves

Good morning Chicago! I'l be live-tweeting City Council's Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development for @CHIdocumenters at 11! Follow along with this thread or watch from home at chicityclerk.com

chicityclerk.com

11:00 AM Oct 29, 2024 CDT

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 2/31

@CHIdocumenters 1: Here's today's agenda: Most of the meeting today deals with budget, tax levy and service provider agreements for Special Service Areas across the city. …storagev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachm…

…storagev1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/meetingattachm…

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 3/31

@CHIdocumenters 2: Special Service Areas are hyperlocal tax districts to fund and beautify commercial areas across the city. You can read more about them here: Andddd here's a map of the City's 55 SSAs: chicago.gov/city/en/depts/…

chicago.gov/city/en/depts/…

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 4/31

@CHIdocumenters 3: The meeting is called to order with quorum established by roll call vote at 11:17 a.m.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 5/31

@CHIdocumenters 4: The meeting begins with public comment. Each commenter is limited to 2 minutes due to an abundance of them. Cecilia Butler is up first to oppose Sunshine Ministries' community building in Washington Park, preferring to keep the park as open space. hpherald.com/evening_digest…

hpherald.com/evening_digest…

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 6/31

@CHIdocumenters 5: Ted Stalnos, the president of the Calumet Area Industrial Committee, speaks in support of the quantum computing project planned for Steelworkers park. blockclubchicago.org/2024/07/25/for…

blockclubchicago.org/2024/07/25/for…

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 7/31

@CHIdocumenters 6: Oscar Sanchez, of the Southeast environmental task force, urges the committee to consider developments that benefit the community. Amalia NietoGomez of Alliance of the Southeast says to slow down the approval of the Steelworkers park site, instead diverting taxes to schools.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 8/31

@CHIdocumenters 7: Another speaker speaks out against the speed at which the quantum computing project has moved through council. "We're moving too fast," he said. "I'm not opposed to the project, just the process." The next speaker, a small business owner, speaks in support of the project.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 9/31

@CHIdocumenters 8: A Roseland resident raises concern about the "blight" in his area and abundance of vacant lots. He calls for more economic investment in Black communities. Mari Rodriguez of the 36th ward complains about alder Villegas taking away the residential parking on her block.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 10/31

@CHIdocumenters 9: A south Chicago resident recalls its middle class industrial history to speak in support of the quantum works to bring jobs back to the area. Jessica Jackson opposes commercial development until housing issues and gentrification in South Shore are addressed.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 11/31

@CHIdocumenters 10: George Blakemore comments, then leaves the conference room yelling. The next commenter says she is offended by the lack of Black alderpeople in this meeting. She announces her candidacy for 3rd ward to unseat alder Pat Dowell.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 12/31

@CHIdocumenters 11: Another speaker from Alliance of the Southeast raises concerns about lowering the quantum computing project developers' taxes to incentivize development. She questions why the same incentives aren't available for small business. "Please slow down the process," she said.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 13/31

@CHIdocumenters 12: Juan Sandoval speaks in support of the tax incentives for the quantum computing developer to move Chicago into the future. South Chicago resident and founder of Lake Effect Community Development Jorge Perez speaks in support of the tax incentive too.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 14/31

@CHIdocumenters 13: Public comment concludes and the meeting moves into agenda item 1, reappointing Juliana Montebello-Roman as member of SSA 17 in Central Lakeview. Her reappointment passes by quorum vote. It will be presented to the full council at the next meeting.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 15/31

@CHIdocumenters 14: The motion to approve all of items 2-9 by the same roll call that established quorum vote passes.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 16/31

@CHIdocumenters 15: Tim Jeffries of the Dept of Planning and Urban Development presents agenda item 30, regarding the development of the US Steel site for the quantum computing project.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 17/31

@CHIdocumenters 16: Jeffries says the site is perfect due to its water and highway access. He calls this a "generational investment" to re-establish the Southeast side as a global hub for industry.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 18/31

@CHIdocumenters 17: The site has one company confirmed, PsiQuantum, and will court other companies to utilize the space. The City expects federal and state investments. Jeffries stresses current park space is NOT included in this development proposal, just vacant former industrial space.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 19/31

18: Developers and city officials field questions from alderpersons. The County and City will be providing a $10 million development incentive in addition to the tax reduction.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 20/31

19: Ald Waguespack asks about ongoing environmental cleanup, the city says it has been cleared. Ald LaSpata asks about previous attempts to develop the site. There were 3 from 1999 to 2017, ranging from factories to housing. The city says this is the most developed proposal.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 21/31

20: Ald LaSpata advocates to keep environmental impact in mind. He said although it complies with the lakefront ordinance, he wants to make sure the lakefront remains publicly accessible.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 22/31

21: Ald Manaa-Hoppenworth asks about workforce development and a jobs pipeline for area students. The developer said they will host a contractor fair. They are partnered with an organization to start apprenticeships for students to build an "ecosystem" from CPS to city colleges.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 23/31

22: "The goal is to have that poster child who grew up in the neighborhood, went to the neighborhood school, went to CPS, then UIC or U of C ,and now returns to work on the campus," a representative from the developer said.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 24/31

23: Ald Manaa-Hoppenworth asks if this project will displace anyone. A rep from the Mayor's office says they are working on infill housing and developing community strategies to prevent displacement. blockclubchicago.org/2024/10/18/sou…

blockclubchicago.org/2024/10/18/sou…

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 25/31

24: The mayor's office expects the plan to go to the planning commission within a month or two. Ald Lee inquires about the project's power needs. A rep from ComEd says they will build a new substation onsite to serve the project's needs. It will not effect reliability elsewhere

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 26/31

25: The committee passes item 30 to be reported out at the next city council meeting. The Quantum computing development advances.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 27/31

26: Item 40 is to support an initial property tax incentive at 4655 W Arthington St, currently a vacant lot. Angela Maxwell from the DPD is here to present. The property is set to be developed into a 72,000 sq ft manufacturing facility to produce high voltage capacitor banks.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 28/31

27: This project is estimated to create 80 - 100 new jobs. the developer is partnering with North Lawndale community organizations to hire local.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 29/31

28: The committee passes the incentive for item 40. Next is approval for a class C tax abatement at 3179 N Clark St. for HSG Belmont Clark, LLC in the 44th ward. The property will have a grocery store on the second floor and banking and retail space below.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 30/31

29: The recomendation passes committee to be reported out at the next city council meeting.

Mo Dunne @rolllingwaves 31/31

30: And with that, the meeting is adjourned at 1:10 p.m. Thanks for following along!! Follow @CHIdocumenters for more local coverage :)

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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.