Reporting in-person from City Hall, people have begun gathering in the hallway outside the conference room.

Agenda has been made available to the public: [] chicago.gov/content/dam/ci…

Community Development Commission (CDC) was established in 1992 to handle duties of the former Commercial District Development Commission and the Department of Urban Renewal.

CDC reviews and recommends actions of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to assist redevelopment projects, designation of new TIF districts and redevelopment areas, sale of city-owned property within those areas, and member appointment to Community Conservation Councils.

Meeting is called to order at 1:33pm after establishing quorum. The commission agrees on the approval of previous meetings minutes from the previous September 10th meeting.

There are 2 items on today's agenda. Item 1 is old business: Diversey/Chicago River TIF Redevelopment Project Area (Ward 32)

DPD is requesting approval to expand the Diversey/Chicago River TIF boundaries to incorporate the remaining portion of the Lathrop Homes housing development.

Lathrop Homes is one of Chicago's earliest public housing developments. Only a portion of the homes were included in the original TIF boundary created in October 2016.

Eligibility factors include deterioration, vacancy and code. Proposed land uses remain the same, amendment currently allows for residential, open space, public and mixed use.

Total redevelopment costs come up to $60,000,000. Commissioner Curtis asks about the scope. Previously, only some buildings were slotted for rehab and now the recommendation is that the entirety of Lathrop Homes will be rehabilitated.

The TIF amendment is to capture the entirety of the Lathrop Homes area. The first phase, north of Diversey, is complete and the city is now focusing on the area south of Diversey. McKibben asks for the anticipated timeline. DPD responds that it will be done in 2027.

Boatright asks what the total number of units will be: 488 units. ⅓ will be CHA, ⅓ low income housing and ⅓ will be market rate housing.

Time is allotted for public commentary for agenda item 1. Speaker 1 is Zoe Leigh, a regular public commenter, in strong opposition to TIF funds. Zoe affirms that TIF is a clear money-laundering scheme.

The city of Chicago illegally sold Leigh’s mother’s land 7954-7950 S Halsted in Auburn Gresham, even when she had done everything she was supposed to, had blueprints and paperwork as well.

“A lot of people who are low income are getting promised that once these are fixed, they’re going to put them back in these places and they don’t and that's a problem…TIF money is supposed to be for blighted areas on the South and West sides, and yall cant even get it together.”

Speaker 2, Jessica Jackson comments that what's missing in the probate division is a stenographer. “There's no written record of the probate process, which is one of the processes that’s used to take Black people’s property.”

Jackson states that the funds are still being allotted to the north side, and there is no interest in rebuilding historic buildings in the South side.

“--As if people don't own property…pushing poverty down peoples’ throats…As if there’s not a working class that can pay rent and keep the property in our community”

Jackson continues that “all this low income stuff don’t pay no property taxes…and that takes away from money that could be going into the schools in our area”.

Item 1: Diversey/Chicago River TIF Redevelopment Project Area (Ward 34) is approved.

Item 2 is under new business: Roosevelt/Clark TIF Redevelopment Project Area (Ward 34). Chicago Dept of Transportation to provide a new pedestrian and vehicular bridge on Taylor Street (between Canal & Wells) that would reach over the railyard and South Branch of the river.

Reestablishing the Taylor Street bridge would provide better access and relieve congestion on adjacent river crossing bridges (Harrison St and Roosevelt Rd). Construction is scheduled to start in late 2026. Total amount would be $93.5 million, with $84 million for construction.

Commission questions include: if there are any residential areas nearby and if they've been contacted? and are any residential properties affected by easements or right of way?

CDOT has not done community outreach yet, and there are no residential properties affected because to the south is vacant and to the north is a parking lot.

Time is given for public commentary regarding Item 2. Speaker 1 is Zoe Leigh, found it hard to hear that the South Branch of the river gets overlooked but not the South or West sides of the city.

Leigh mentions that while $93 million is passed no problem, their mother asked for $2 million for affordable housing in a TIF district and was denied.

Speaker 2 is Jessica Jackson, who is curious (with sincerity) and does not understand “how as a Black person [speaking directly to the Chair], how you can sit by and let our areas get depleted like this?” Jackson speaks to larger problems in Black leadership.

Item 2: Requesting authority to acquire part of properties in the Roosevelt/Clark TIF Redevelopment Project Area (Ward 34) is approved.

Meeting is adjourned at 2:10pm.