Three items are listed on the agenda today for the Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development: two Class 6(b) property tax breaks for industrial properties and a reappointment to the Community Development Commission, the body in charge of establishing new TIF districts and Redevelopment Areas, as well as the appointment of members to Community Conservation Councils. This will be Ald. Proco Joe Moreno's (1) first time chairing the committee. His predecessor, Ald. Howard Brookins (21) was tapped to fill Ald. Will Burns' slot as Education Committee chair.

Rockwell Properties applied for a Class 6(b) tax incentive to support the “purchase, rehabilitation and build-out” of a 135,000-square-foot of industrial space at 3057 N. Rockwell Ave. The rehab would be to accommodate Metropolis Coffee Company, which uses part of the property for coffee roasting, warehousing, and office space. The rest of the available space in the building would be targeted out to other food related companies.

The property is located in the Addison Industrial Corridor, along the North Branch of the Chicago River in Ald. Deb Mell’s 33rd Ward. The project is expected to cost $11.2 million, including the cost of remediation work, roof repairs and upgrades to the 11 industrial buildings located on site. With the tax incentive, the company would save $1.6 million over the next 12 years.

Another application for a Class 6(b) tax incentive from J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.would help the company continue operating a 28-acre trucking and intermodal facility in Stevenson Industrial Corridor. If approved, this would be the company’s third renewal, saving the company an estimated $3.1 million in real estate taxes over the next 12 years. The company applied for their first Class 6(b) designation in 1994 and renewed it in 2006, saving the company $4.9 million.

The third item on the agenda is the reappointment of Robert Buford to the Community Development Commission, a 15-member body that oversees TIFs. Buford is the CEO of Planned Realty Group. He was first appointed to the commission in 2011 by Mayor Emanuel.

 

Presser Against Mitts’ Strip Club Ordinance Scheduled This Morning, After Mitts Files Rule 41
by A.D. Quig – [email protected]

Representatives from sexual exploitation advocacy groups will hold a press conference at City Hall this morning against Ald. Emma Mitts’ (37) ordinance allowing liquor sales at fully nude strip clubs. Advocacy groups say the alcohol and full nudity are an “explosive combination frequently leading to abuse, assault and violence in areas where strip clubs are located.” Ald. Toni Foulkes (16) and Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) will also join today’s press conference.

Though the issue passed the Zoning Committee last month, Ald. Mitts deferred and published the item at April’s full Council meeting, saying she didn’t want to “mislead” her colleagues, and initially believed the measure was limited to topless bars. She said the ordinance, which has the backing of Ald. Ed Burke (14) would need some re-working. She filed a Rule 41 on Friday saying she intends to call it for a vote this Wednesday.