At a meeting of the Chicago Plan Commission Thursday Ald. Michele Smith (43), a vocal critic of the Department of Planning and Development’s (DPD) North Branch redevelopment plan, testified against the sale of the Department of Fleet and Facilities Management headquarters. The 18-acre parcel fronts the Chicago River to Sterling Bay.

Smith argued the sale was "short-sighted and misguided."

"This is irreplaceable, priceless riverfront land,” Smith testified, “It should be retained for the public, to serve the 300,000 citizens surrounding the corridor now and to serve the untold tens of thousands who will be moving into the rezoned areas and the adjacent areas." Last month Smith lodged the same criticism against the department during a vote last month to repeal the strict planned manufacturing zoning designation.