Plan Commission
Chicago Plan Commission
Development
Remote
This is a remote assignment. You can view the meeting livestream at https://vimeo.com/user100351763 (it may be labeled DPD recordings).
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team
Note-taking by
Ayesha Riaz
Live reporting by
Matthew Gladly
Matthew Gladly
@therealGLADmatt
Today I'll be ( v i r t u a l l y ) at the Chicago Department of Planning + Development Plan Commission Meeting
on behalf of @CHIdocumenters @city_bureau
Tune in 😷R-E-M-O-T-E-L-Y😷
at vimeo.com/427481930
#governmentwatchdog 🧐🐶
#citybureau *SNIFF SNIFF*
on behalf of @CHIdocumenters @city_bureau
Tune in 😷R-E-M-O-T-E-L-Y😷
at vimeo.com/427481930
#governmentwatchdog 🧐🐶
#citybureau *SNIFF SNIFF*
10:18 AM Jun 18, 2020 CDT
First order of business passes unanimously to approve this rule https://t.co/UguvfQfhKk
Proposed amendment for North Austin Community Center at 1830-64 N. Leclaire Avenue + 1815-1915 N. Laramie Ave (37th ward)
Acquiring vacant land to include 140k sq/ft recreation area - Invest South West has been a long-time advocate for the project
Acquiring vacant land to include 140k sq/ft recreation area - Invest South West has been a long-time advocate for the project
By The Hand Club For Kids is proposing an additional facility to serve 600 more kids (they serve over 1,600 youth already). Below is a mock-up of the new location.
bythehand.org https://t.co/0RSGVqvj8r
bythehand.org https://t.co/0RSGVqvj8r
Project includes - 140 sq/ft indoor facility, outdoor recreation space, separation of pedestrian and car traffic, Grace + Peace Church + N. Austin Community Center. separate entrances for BTHC and rec center. Includes kitchen and classrooms for after school programs.
Alderman questions regarding funding answered: $25 million project : 6 million new market tax credits, raised $4 mill, $15 million more to raise, $4 mill in grant requests out, Providence bank provides up to 50% in construction financing.
Comm. Searl - What about color? All buildings in blue prints are gray. "It looks a little bit institutional." Mostly concrete construction. "Whatever can be done to enhance the entry areas."
Architect Joe Buehler - We sampled colors from neighboring areas but the entrance way area color pops are a great idea.
Ald Walter Burnett - Cherishes BTHC. He's known them for over 20 years and recalls when they started in a room in Cabrini Green. "Thank god there are so many Christian people who support these young people." They help with homework, food, everything.
Comm. Maurice Cox - "The architects have worked really hard to make it a context sensitive building." Agrees on lack of color and fears it could be mistaken for an industrial building.
Comm. Flores - "This is a great program, but its not necessarily reflected on the theme of the building." "It doesn't have to reflect the building around it if it won't inspire the youth."
Comm Reyes: What is cost for families? BTHC Donnita Travis: the program sponsors the youths so no cost. For outside use they are using similar model as Pullman facility. League rentals will pay usage fee that supports on-going operations.
Ald Mitts (Alderman of the ward development will be in): "Today is an exciting day . . . I can go back twenty years ago when I first tried to get something like this for these kids."
Next planned development (27th ward) - Joshua Son of Dept. Planning + Development presents on 737 W. Lake St. (The Parker Building) represented by Greg Steadman.
Liquor and packaged goods for first floor is being proposed. Steadman (attorney): 1,900 sq/ft liquor store in West Town. Buildout will be done with minority contractor. Store will generate 6-10 permanent jobs and city taxes revenue.
Next item: Proposed planned development at 1200 W. Carroll avenue with STERLING BAY - 230ft tall mixed use building, 90 parking stalls, they're requesting zoning change, also in 27th ward
Submitted as mandatory because it will exceed height limits for current zoning. Architects: first floor is retail space with mechanical spaces in back of building by train tracks, open air common space for neighborhood, single flat deck above plaza for parking
Architect: Fitness center and cafe club lounge on 12th floor, 50% of roof is green roof. Some classic Sterling Bay aesthetics below🥴 https://t.co/Xtc0l8YjU0
Comm. Villegas - Is there a bond on this project? Unknown, they will follow back with Alders about it.
Ald Cox - Acknowledges how they worked with the staff about issues of how the building meets the ground floor covered plaza. Not all teams are open to these creative collabs
Ald Cox - Acknowledges how they worked with the staff about issues of how the building meets the ground floor covered plaza. Not all teams are open to these creative collabs
Next item: New Waterfront Planned Development at 3044 E. 122nd Street in 10th ward - 580k sq/ft, 344 parking spaces, 56 loading spaces w/in 100ft of Calumet River
Erika Sellke - NP Avenue O LLC (affiliate of North Point Development) is applicant. Project is in South Deering. Liz Butler (attorney) https://t.co/1ed7nxJtDk
Acquired 200 acre site in 2018. Former location of Republic Steel Mill. This business industrial park with feature 5 massive buildings, the largest is 1 mill sq/ft. Will create as many as 660 permanent jobs. The largest industrial development in Chicago history!
Requires remediation, water, and other utility installations. It has a layer of industrial "slag" - stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting or refining of ore. https://t.co/v0sUKPAA4j
Landscape Architects - 575 total trees, 345 are ornamental with 17.9 acres of naturalized area (16.6 acres of Prairie) 🌲🌳🌲
Features 80% waste diversion and exceeds stormwater ordinance by 25%, 10% 10th ward hiring goal, future 20% electric car charging for parking
Features 80% waste diversion and exceeds stormwater ordinance by 25%, 10% 10th ward hiring goal, future 20% electric car charging for parking
Comm Cox - Glad the road network is being built out via CDOT standards. "The trees and prairie area will be the defining element of this development. https://t.co/MKOVAc5vxD
Tom George of North Point says, "We as a company are underway studying the use of solar to see if we can make sense out of it." We own 175 million sq ft nationwide. "We don't know for sure, but we want to have the building ready for it."
They are helping pay for railway improvements, hugely helpful for CDOT.
Ald Susan Sadlowski Garza - "The way they're transforming this is like the Phoenix rising from the ashes." They've helped buy food and medicine for people in the pandemic, an actual part of community
Ald Susan Sadlowski Garza - "The way they're transforming this is like the Phoenix rising from the ashes." They've helped buy food and medicine for people in the pandemic, an actual part of community
DPD tracking of Plan Commission applications
2017. 15 projects, $7.15 billion projected costs
2020. 30 billion estimated project costs, 88k construction jobs, 26% minority owned, 6% women owned, and 50% city resident hiring (all minimums remained consistent the last 4 years)
2017. 15 projects, $7.15 billion projected costs
2020. 30 billion estimated project costs, 88k construction jobs, 26% minority owned, 6% women owned, and 50% city resident hiring (all minimums remained consistent the last 4 years)
Certificate of Occupancy Data: 11 final COOs issued, 6 final reports filed todate, 300 million in project costs, 17.2% minority business, 5% women businesses
This is reviewing the three years since the executive order. All developers and representatives in earlier presentations were white. 🧐 https://t.co/sgA8NhuPEf
Questions and discussion - Comm. Villegas questions how this is actually monitored.
Cox - "There are many developer firms that are meeting these objectives. We should be polling a larger group of developers, not just the ones who tried to meet it and didn't."
Cox - "There are many developer firms that are meeting these objectives. We should be polling a larger group of developers, not just the ones who tried to meet it and didn't."
Cox: We have to be mindful of the best practices for data performance like this. "We talk about construction, but its also architectural services, lawyer services . . ." "We should ask if this is the best way to meet city goals."
Cox: "We don't have minority businesses able to compete in the larger arena as primes."
Searl: "Encourage unions to bring on more minorities."
Villegas: He suggests sub committee about challenging capacity of minority and women owned firms in regards to SBA thresholds.
Searl: "Encourage unions to bring on more minorities."
Villegas: He suggests sub committee about challenging capacity of minority and women owned firms in regards to SBA thresholds.
Smita Shah: Are these going to many different minority owned businesses or just a small amount of minority owned businesses?
Ald Burnett: If they come back to us repeatedly for contracts, they have to recap the last project. "We need to send this kind of message to these guys (developers)."
"I was so worried with all of these protests - I thought they'd tear up the construction jobs in these wards."
"I was so worried with all of these protests - I thought they'd tear up the construction jobs in these wards."
"They don't do it!" in regards to hiring black developers. "We need to address it or its gonna blow up in our face."
Comm. Cox - "It's going to take the carrot and the stick . . . I know we can do better, and we have to do better."
Comm. Cox - "It's going to take the carrot and the stick . . . I know we can do better, and we have to do better."
The commission votes to adjourn, thanks for sticking around. Enjoy the scraps inspected by this community watchdog. Until next time.
*SNIFF SNIFF*
🧐🐶
*SNIFF SNIFF*
🧐🐶
Agency Information
Chicago Plan Commission
The Chicago Plan Commission is responsible for the review of proposals that involve Planned Developments (PDs), the Lakefront Protection Ordinance, Planned Manufacturing Districts (PMDs), Industrial Corridors and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts. It also reviews proposed sales and acquisitions of public land as well as certain long-range community plans.
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