The proposed Firebird Community Arts center renderings are shown at the March 5, 2025 housing committee meeting. [Livestream]

The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate on Wednesday approved the sale of city land to support an arts center, new housing and a community garden and the renewal of lease agreements to support a public library branch in Garfield Ridge and a children’s literacy organization, sending final approval of those items to the City Council next week.

The Committee on License and Consumer Protection meets on March 4, 2025. [Livestream]

The City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection on Tuesday approved the appointment of a permanent Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) commissioner and approved a citywide ban on the sale of most fur products.

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) and animal advocates hold a press conference in front of Chicago Animal Care and Control headquarters on March 3, 2025. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) and animal advocate and care organizations are calling on Mayor Brandon Johnson to name a permanent leader of Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC). 

At a news conference in front of CACC headquarters Monday morning, they said that the lack of a permanent director for more than two years has been a detriment to Chicago’s animal care efforts, resulting in lower adoptions and higher rates of euthanasia.

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25), chair of the housing committee, is pictured at a council meeting Sept. 18, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate on Wednesday will consider the sale of city land to support an arts center, new housing and a community garden and the renewal of lease agreements to support a public library branch in Garfield Ridge and a children’s literacy organization.

The housing committee will meet at 12:30 p.m. in council chambers.

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) attends a mayoral press conference after a City Council meeting on Jan. 15, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) next month will step down after nearly a decade on the City Council to become the next superintendent of the Chicago Park District, giving Mayor Brandon Johnson his first opportunity to appoint an alderperson to a vacant seat.

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50), chair of the license and consumer protection committee, is pictured at a City Council meeting in October 2023. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on License and Consumer Protection on Tuesday will consider the appointment of a permanent business affairs commissioner and an ordinance to ban the sale of fur products.

The committee will meet at 10:30 a.m. in Room 201A at City Hall.

Apartments near the 606 Bloomingdale Trail. [Eric Allix Rogers]

A pilot program aimed at preserving affordable multifamily housing in Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Avondale, Hermosa and West Town is finally set to go into effect this weekend after months of delay. 

While the impacts of the pilot won’t be immediately apparent, affected building owners and realtors will be watching to see if properties experience reduced sale prices or delayed transactions.

Ald. Nicole Lee (11) speaks about the $830 million general obligation bond authorization ordinance at a special City Council meeting on Feb. 26, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council on Wednesday voted 26-23 to approve an $830 million general obligation bond authorization in a divisive vote over concerns about the proposed repayment structure from nearly half the council.

Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry speaks at a news conference flanked by Mayor Brandon Johnson on Oct. 9, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry on Tuesday defended her department against recent allegations from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) that the law department routinely interferes in investigations that could be politically harmful to top city officials.

Ald. Michelle Harris (8), chair of the Committee on Committees and Rules, is pictured during a City Council meeting Oct. 9, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council rules committee on Tuesday re-referred ordinances to various committees, including an ordinance to implement the city’s Plow the Sidewalks pilot effort, a measure to remove economic disclosure requirements in specific cases, two hemp-related ordinances and a measure to allow the city to set up a new nonprofit housing development corporation.

Ald. Michelle Harris (8), chair of the Committee on Committees and Rules, is pictured during a City Council meeting Oct. 9, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council rules committee on Tuesday will consider moving forward on an ordinance to implement the city’s Plow the Sidewalks pilot effort, a measure to remove economic disclosure requirements in specific cases, two hemp-related ordinances and a measure to allow the city to set up a new nonprofit housing development corporation.

The Committee on Committees and Rules will meet at 10 a.m. in council chambers.

Ethics Committee Chair Matt Martin is pictured during a council meeting on Oct. 9, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

A proposal from the City Council’s ethics committee chair was stalled by a mayoral ally after it was introduced at last week’s council meeting.

A proposed apartment tower in Lincoln Park was approved by the Chicago Plan Commission Thursday. [Chicago Department of Planning and Development]

The Chicago Plan Commission on Thursday approved a precursor to an upzoning of a portion of Broadway in Edgewater and Uptown, a large mixed-use apartment building in Lincoln Park and a corridor plan for a portion of 95th Street.

Ald. Anthony Beale (9) speaks at a City Council meeting Feb. 19, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Members of the City Council on Wednesday debated whether to keep a rule that has allowed members to participate in council and committee business and vote virtually since the COVID-19 pandemic began. 

Ultimately, the sponsor of the measure to remove the remote participation rule postponed a vote on it after promises from colleagues to work on a compromise to crack down on abuse of the rule.

From left, Alds. Bennett Lawson (44) and Bill Conway (34) attend a council meeting on Feb. 19, 2025. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council on Wednesday delayed the approval of an $830 million bond authorization to pay for various infrastructure improvements but voted down a reduction to Chicago’s default speed limit.