Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development
Chicago City CouncilRemote
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Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team
More space and freedom for home businesses, Special Service Area appointments, Tax incentives for new developments
More space and freedom for home businesses, Special Service Area appointments, Tax incentives for new developments
02:01 PM Apr 13, 2021 CDT
chicago.documenters.org/documents/noti… https://t.co/iPzH2woc7w
chicago.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.…
chicago.documenters.org/documents/agen… https://t.co/HmVzbz29Xz
Chairman Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward) appears on the Zoom call. He calls the meeting for the Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development to order at 2:06 PM.
Villegas calls for a quorum/meeting to begin.
Villegas said they will move on to public comment. There is only one person – Marilyn May. She is given 3 minutes to speak.
blockclubchicago.org/2020/12/10/cit…
Villegas names each item 1-9. https://t.co/bYxXNlflOC
Villegas asks if there are any questions from the committee members? None.
Villegas asks for motion for approval of these SSAs appointments and reappointments.
Villegas thanks the SSA commissioners approved for their work. “We look forward to working with you.”
The project is funded through a combination of debt and equity. The total project cost was $16.7 million.
Called on Alderman Thompson, whose ward this project will be in. Thompson said this is a “terrific project” & “positive impact on the community” because it is going to create jobs & create an economic impact on the Ashland corridor...
Added, “I understand it’s a great project” but the “ration seemed a little generous.”
Villegas called on developer to respond/reply to Tunney’s comment about the abatement ratio.
Tunney asked his question to Fish about the tax abatement ratio $16 million & $5 million over 12 years. Said that is a “pretty generous incentive” – return.
Fish reiterated what Morrissey said about the developer settings going directly to the tenant. Fish said “triple net lease. So we don’t see any benefits of this – this is strictly a tenant benefit.”
Fish said he understood what Tunney meant. “It’s not a landlord savings…these tax costs are passed to the tenant.”
Cardenas added he is interested in this project because it is in McKinley Park which is part of his ward & next to his ward. “We have responsibility to ask these questions. I know constituents are going to want to know exactly how...
Tim Jeffries, Deputy Commissioner of Financial Incentives Division from the DPD, chimed into the call.
Jeffries added that the city assessment decided how much incentive a project receives.
Cardenas said, “We’re just trying to get educated…in terms of more or less where we’re at…”
Alderman Silvana Tabares (23rd Ward) wanted to be added to the rollcall attendance since she logged in late to the meeting. Villegas asked secretary to add Tabares.
Villegas asked if there are any other questions or comments. None. He asked for motion. Alderman Ariel Reyboras (30th Ward) puts motion. (I believe)
It is approved and will be reported on the next city council meeting Apri 21st.
Morrissey went over this project – tax incentive for NP Avenue O, LLC for the purpose of constructing a 602,545 square foot industrial building of a larger campus located at 3300 East 122nd Street – building B. https://t.co/lleeuFoh1G
(*NOTE THAT CONNECTION WAS LOST DURING THIS PRESENTATION.) https://t.co/YGE1Qww56K
-180 to 220 new full-time positions
-20 year vacant property
Christina Hubacek developer and Tom George tenant present to answer questions. https://t.co/gbkGXASB4u
Villegas called on Alderman Garza. (Connection problem again.)
Garza, whose ward will have this tax incentive project & is not a member of the committee, told other members to vote yes on it.
DPD supports this project because it will create:
-130-150 construction jobs
-completed project estimated to create 174-200 new full-time jobs to the community. https://t.co/DVx0COA6AN
Morrissey asked members if they have questions.
Morrissey said there are. “There’s a redevelopment agreement in place and 26% M&B and 6% WB.”
Villegas called on Tunney.
1. ‘Any identified tenants’?
2. Tax savings based on full occupancy?
Tunney said he got the square footage formula. He asked about not having a tenant for three or four years, and fully occupied. Vacancy rates based on speculative deals?
Tunney said, “Yes, that makes all the business sense in the world.”
Christina Hubacek with Northpoint Development appeared on the call.
Hubacek the demand for these building types is “exceedingly high, but the availability in the...
Hubacek added that they have hope to lease the building before it is fully constructed. She said that if they do see an impact on the market they will pause on building E until building B is fully leased.
Tunney said his only follow-up is – what types of manufacturers you think, or industrial users will be appropriate for these two buildings?
Alderman Nicholas Sposato (38th Ward) chimed in and said a name of a restaurant…
Garza chimed in and said, “We could use one of those down here aldermen.”
Garza thanked the developer and said she hoped members will vote yes on this “much needed development in our ward.”
Villegas asked for motion to pass. Sposato puts motion. Passed & will be mentioned in the next City Council meeting on April 21st.
Villegas introduced this ordinance during the January 27th City Council meeting. https://t.co/9zaUP1pZ6D
1. Original language of license requiring “accessory buildings or accessory structures only used as institutes of storage of business was kept.”
Businesses must still comply with all applicable codes.
Villegas talked about the substitute ordinance and the work it will do support small businesses and the advocates for small businesses like Elliot Richardson and...
10% to 25% more square footage helps small businesses Villegas added.
Villegas called on Rosa Escareno, Commissioner at Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.
The ordinance will “provide safeguard to protect consumers from fraud and guarantees safety & preserves residential neighborhoods.”
The ordinance will also provide other benefits like:
-expanding options for home sales
-safety, minimizes consumer fraud, and preserves residential neighborhood
Emphasized that they “do not want residential areas turning into commercial districts, or our homes to turn into dangerous home environments.”
Escareno said this ordinance is “Striking the right balance.”
Richardson added, “entrepreneurs start at home…they create jobs and revenue. That’s what we want to see in Chicago.”
Kregor said more Chicagoans had needed to start their businesses from...
She said, “Chicago’s current law restricts businesses to a tiny space in their homes. Chicago is more restrictive than other city we could find…We think it is vital that business owners have the space to work from home.”
Villegas thanked other individuals for this ordinance.
Villegas called on Cardenas.
Cardenas said that banks will want to know how to finance this new initiative.
Villegas called on Hadden.
Hadden said she just wanted to echo her support for this ordinance. “Excited to work on this…Especially on the 49th Ward community.”
Villegas said it is approved & will be heard in the next City Council meeting on April 21st.
Villegas said he wanted to wish happy birthday to Alderwoman Stephanie Coleman (16th Ward) & Michael H. from ARB.
Thank you for following along! 😊
If you want more information about this meeting, please look here:👇
chicago.documenters.org/assignments/co…
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