Cook County Board members voted to approve a $33 million supplies contract with Grainger and a $2 million settlement brought by a detainee over Cook County Jail’s release policies, but not without pointed questioning. Commissioners also approved a new, nascent program to give uninsured residents access to healthcare and moved the needle on other initiatives outlined below.

Applications to convert a vacant elementary school in Uptown into apartments and a plan to add four more stories to the new Nobu Hotel in Fulton Market are on tap for the city’s Plan Commission today, as well as a new townhome development for the Galewood neighborhood on the city’s West Side.

Developer Morningside Equities Group is behind a plan to rehabilitate and convert the five-story Graeme Stewart Elementary School into a 64-unit residential building with 100 off-street parking spots. Located at 4525 North Kenmore Ave., the school is in Ald. James Cappleman’s 46th Ward. The school was one of 50 Chicago Public Schools closed in 2013. Built in 1906, the school was recently proposed as a Chicago landmark.

Morningside's David M. Strosberg and Mary Ellen Martin are seeking to establish a planned development, because the unit count exceeds the threshold allowed in an RT-4 district. Morningside bought the school in January 2016.

The developer behind a Nobu Hotel in Fulton Market will return back to the Plan Commission to amend their existing planned development, first approved by the land-use body and subsequently the City Council in June 2015. The hotel is currently under construction. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Ald. Walter Burnett (27) attended a groundbreaking ceremony on June 20, 2016. Two days later, at the June monthly City Council meeting, Mark Hunt filed an application for an amended PD to add four stories to the building for a total of 11-stories.

The Nobu Hospitality Group, started by famed Japanese Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, operates hotels and restaurants across the country, all located in refurbished buildings. Chicago’s is the only one that’s new construction.

In June of 2015, commissioners approved a scaled down redesign for a proposed Nobu Hotel and restaurant for a vacant lot in the West Loop. The original plan called for 155 hotel rooms, 65 parking spaces and a 10,000 square foot restaurant. The truncated size of the building was due not to concerns by local residents, but rather from concerns raised by Ald. Burnett and the city’s Department of Planning and Development. Ald. Burnett testified that he and the city were concerned a taller building would go against the character of the neighborhood, which at the time was being considered for landmark status.

The project, as approved by the Plan Commission last year, was seven stories with 83 hotel rooms and 35 off-site parking spots. Plans also included an amenity level, rooftop penthouse, and outdoor seating for the restaurant. Since the project qualifies as Transit Oriented Development–the new Morgan St. CTA station is within 600 ft. of the site–developers weren’t required to build on-site parking, but purchased a building on Mason and Randolph St. as a backup lot, according to the developer’s legal counsel, Rolando Acosta, with law firm Ginsberg Jacobs.

At that June meeting, Zoning Administrator Patti Scudiero said she never thought the day would come when the project would finally reach the Plan Commission. When the project first reached her desk in 2012, Scudiero recalled, developers had requested that the site be rezoned as a Downtown district, which would have removed height restrictions. She said it was a big ask, especially as the Department was developing the Fulton Market Innovation District Plan. She thanked the applicant for being “more than patient with the City.”

And rarely is there an application for a large scale housing development outside the city’s central business district or north side, but today the Plan Commission will consider a zoning application from Mia Property Acquisitions (NOAH Properties) to build 14 three-story homes, for a total of 84-units in the city’s Glenwood neighborhood. The housing development is planned for a large vacant lot that spans the 2100 block of North Natchez, next to Roberto Clemente School. The project triggers the city’s affordable housing requirements (ARO), but the zoning application doesn’t detail if the developer is paying the in-lieu fee or providing on-site affordable units.  

Other Map Amendment/Planned Development Applications on the Plan Commission Agenda:

• 57-61 W. Erie Street (42nd) - LG Development Group (Brian Goldberg, Barry Howard, Marc Lifshin) are seeking to establish a planned development to build a 12-story, 10-unit condo-building with a ground floor lobby and 10 parking spaces. The project is divided into two sub-areas. The new construction will be located in Sub-Area A; Sub-Area B is currently a four-story residential building with no changes proposed. The city’s ARO is triggered, and requires one affordable unit or an in-lieu fee.

• 46 East Oak Street. (42nd Ward) - Since this is a Lake Michigan and Chicago Lakefront Protection Application, there’s no corresponding ordinance for this development plan. Plans call for a four-story commercial retail building with office space. According to the Plan Commission agenda, the developer is “STRS L3 ACQ4, LLC” (Thor Equities, according to Crain’s Chicago.)


• 1760 W. Wrightwood Avenue (32nd Ward) This is another application to amend an existing planned development first approved in 2001. Hartland Park Master Homeowners Association wants to amend PD # 797 “to allow the applicant to retain as private all streets within the Planned Development and allow the applicant to continue to be responsible for and regulate the streets” according to the letter filed by their attorney, Thomas S. Moore.  

A press conference calling for “putting more teeth” into Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposed police reform ordinance conducted by the normally staid Community Renewal Society turned belligerent yesterday morning as CRS members and pastors attempted to enter the Council Chambers bearing wind-up teeth.

Last night Daily Line readers gathered at the Hotel Monaco for a cocktail and to hear a panel discussion on Chicago’s fiscal crisis, and what can be done to improve it. Our panelists were Bobby Otter from the Center for Tax And Budget Accountability, Brian Bernardoni, from the Chicago Association of Realtors, Michael Reever from the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and Craig Chico of the Back of The Yards Neighborhood Council. Bobby Otter presented a deep dive into Chicago’s finances, and what to expect in the future. You can get his presentation here.

The evening was a tremendous success, with great attendance. As with our event last May, the questions posed by the audience through our web app were sharp. While I’m biased as the moderator, I think the discussion we held was one of the most informed on city finances I’ve yet to see. We were lucky to have four smart people available to participate.

Also, a word on our panel make up: We’ve heard a few complaints that our panel was all male. We hear you. We actually approached five different women leaders, many of whom are quite significant, and all had conflicts. We tried hard, but were ultimately disappointed. We’ll try harder for our December 12 panel.

Finally, we’d like to thank our sponsors for last night, Reyes Kurson, the Chicago Association of Realtors, Daley & Georges, Outreach Experts and WGN Radio. Without their support last night would not have been able to come together. Thank you.

We’ll have a podcast of the proceedings later this week. Thanks to all who came!

New rules to shorten meeting days, streamline and rein in public testimony, and help coordinate care for the uninsured at the Cook County Health and Hospital System are all up for committee consideration today, starting at 9:30 this morning.  

Yesterday’s committee meetings flew by. Workers Compensation Committee and the Finance Subcommittee on Litigation, per usual, were conducted in executive session. Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee was canceled at the direction of its chair, Comm. Larry Suffredin (D-13) to allow for further consideration of his substituted pharmaceutical disposal ordinance. The sole item in Veterans Affairs Committee, a widely sponsored ordinance mandating additional reporting and outreach for veteran contractors, passed with little discussion (more details in our preview). We’ve given an overview of the subject matter hearing on the changes to the county’s property tax incentives to reflect the new Industrial Growth Zone initiative below.

An incomplete, early draft of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s police reform ordinance was the subject of a day-long hearing held by a joint Council Committee on Budget and Public Safety. Several key questions remain unanswered, like how much the city plans to appropriate for the new oversight agencies, if they will be allowed to hire outside counsel, and when exactly part two of the reform process, the community oversight portion, will be taken up.

Today will be the first of two full City Council meetings this month where aldermen will take up some big ticket items like Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s new water-sewer tax, a significant redesign plan for Navy Pier, and the authority for the city to issue up to $3.5 billion dollars in bonds for O’Hare Airport. This month’s second meeting, on September 29, is expected to address police reform measures only.

The Council will also welcome a special guest. At 9:30 a.m., there’ll be a special meeting to award the Chicago Medal of Merit to the former President of Ireland, Mary Therese Winfred Robinson.

“Don’t wear orange!” Ald. Patrick Thompson (11) somewhat jokingly reminded his colleagues when Ald. Ed Burke (14) made the announcement about the special guest at Monday’s Finance Meeting. 

Planned Pressers:

• Supporters for CPAC (a Civilian Police Accountability Council) will hold a press conference at 9:00 a.m. on the second floor of City Hall to demand a vote on their ordinance.

• Ald. Joe Moreno (1) and Ald. Ameya Pawar (47) have scheduled a presser at 9:30 a.m. on the second floor of City Hall to announce the introduction of an amendment to the city’s Affordable Housing Requirements Ordinance (ARO) “that would require developers who receive tax increment financing assistance (TIF) under the ARO, to build affordable housing units on site.”

• The Community Renewal Society will take over the 4th floor of City Hall to demand “the City Council not accept police reforms that lack teeth.” Their presser is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.

Items Slated for a Vote (Highlights)

• The Mayor’s new water-sewer tax, which will be phased in over four years to shore up revenue for the Municipal Pension Fund, the city’s largest retirement fund for city employees.

• Authority for the city to issue up to $3.5 billion dollars in bonds for O’Hare Airport. Part of the offering will pay off existing debt, the new money portion will help with Terminal 5 upgrades and the construction of a new runway. (Bond Package Briefing Docs.)

There was strong aldermanic turnout for the confirmation of Mark Kelly to head Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) on Monday. Kelly, who worked for more than 30 years at Columbia College as the Vice President for Student Success, replaced Michelle T. Boone in mid August as interim commissioner. In committee yesterday, he promised to “make haste slowly” in the department and re-assess Boone’s 2012 Cultural Plan.

Cook County Commissioners meet at 11:00 a.m. this morning for a subject matter hearing on new Industrial Growth Zones planned mostly for the southern part of the county, as well as a number of pending legal settlements. But there’ll be no vote on changes to how commissioners must communicate official government business to make FOIA compliance easier or on a pharmaceutical disposal ordinance that’s been on hold since March.

Aldermen are in for likely another lengthy subject matter hearing today, as they consider Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s ordinance establishing the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) and a new Public Safety Deputy position within the Chicago Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The main bones of contention: COPA’s budget, whether it or the new auditor could hire outside counsel, and how much power the mayor would have over appointing leadership positions. Council is expected to vote on the measure at a special meeting on September 29.

Public Safety Chairman Ariel Reboyras (30) confirmed that no vote will be taken at today’s meeting, only testimony and debate. He also said that two expert witnesses will be flown in to testify: Philip K. Eure, the Inspector General for the New York City Police Department, and Walter Katz, the Independent Auditor for the San Jose, California Police Department. Both have ties with the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE), a non-profit national organization based in Maryland that’s focused on improving police oversight.

Corporation Counsel Steve Patton and Katie Hill, an attorney with the city’s Law Department, are also scheduled to testify, along with IPRA Chief Administrator Sharon Fairley, Police Board President Lori Lightfoot, and Adam Gross with BPI (Business and Professional People for the Public Interest).

The City Council’s Zoning Committee approved an ordinance that would allow medical marijuana dispensaries in the Elston Corridor, and a massive redevelopment plan for Navy Pier, among more than 50 other map amendment changes. And in a rare move, Ald. George Cardenas (12) bended to community concerns raised against two zoning changes he proposed for his ward and agreed to have the items deferred to October.

Despite a setback last week, a proposed $3.5 billion dollar bond offering for O’Hare Airport was approved by the Finance Committee without any debate or discussion. Only two aldermen–Leslie Hairston (5) and Pat Dowell (3)–asked to be recorded as no votes.

Attendance (includes non-members): Chair Ed Burke (14), Joe Moreno (1), Pat Dowell (3), Sophia King (4), Leslie Hairston (5), Rod Sawyer (6),  Gregory Mitchell (7), Michelle Harris (8), Anthony Beale (9), Sue Sadlowski-Garza (10), Patrick Daley Thompson (11), George Cardenas (12), Marty Quinn (13), Raymond Lopez (15), David Moore (17), Derrick Curtis (18), Matt O’Shea (19), Willie Cochran (20) Rick Munoz (22), Michael Scott, Jr. (24), Danny Solis (25), Walter Burnett (27), Jason Ervin (28) Ariel Reboyras (30), Scott Waguespack (32), Gilbert Villegas (36), Nick Sposato (38), Brendan Reilly (42), Tom Tunney (44), Harry Osterman (48), Deb Silverstein (50)

O’Hare Bonds

The swift approval of the bond deal was a surprising turn of events following Friday’s marathon meeting, where the Council’s Black Caucus successfully led the charge to temporarily block a vote on the item, essentially deferring it to Monday. Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans and Chief Financial Officer Carole Brown were in attendance for the vote, but did not testify because no questions were asked of them.

Ahead of the vote, the Council’s Black Caucus reached an agreement with Commissioner Evans that includes quarterly briefings on minority hiring and contracts for projects at O’Hare and Midway Airport. The agreement was made in response to a letter Ald. Dowell sent the Commissioner following Friday’s Finance Committee meeting.

Red Light Camera, Speed Ticket Ordinance

The O’Hare bonds were one of three items slated for the Finance Committee Monday. The committee also unanimously approved an ordinance from the city’s Law Department that authorizes the city to send out old red light and speed camera tickets to more than a million Chicagoans who never received second notice of a violation.

Ordinance from Law Department

The move is in response to a lawsuit filed against the city by two motorists who claimed the city failed to properly notify them of their ticket, because they only got one notice, not two.

The Council’s Zoning Committee will take up a substitute ordinance from Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) that would enable medical marijuana dispensaries or cultivation centers to set up shop in the Elston Corridor (Planned Manufacturing District # 2b).

A proposed ordinance to direct all of the city’s surplus Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue to Chicago Public Schools finally got a hearing in the Council Chamber on Friday, sparking a heated debate among aldermen that pitted the importance of needed local development against the needs of Chicago Public Schools.

No vote was taken on Ald. George Cardenas’ (12) Chicago Public Education Revitalization Ordinance, which would create an official mechanism for when the city would be required to direct all surplus TIF money to CPS. It was the last item considered during a nearly six-hour meeting, and most aldermen had left the chamber by the time it was called.