“These ordinances will help provide affordable housing for seniors and families, help support the development of new businesses and further our commitment to developing vibrant communities.” Daley said.

Creation of SBIF Programs

Three ordinances were introduced that authorize the creation of Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) programs on the West and Southwest Sides, providing $3 million in funding to help owners of commercial and industrial properties in designated TIF districts make improvements to their properties.

The Little Village and Roosevelt Cicero Industrial Corridor SBIFs will each be funded with $1 million in TIF assistance and include parts of the North and South Lawndale communities.  The Western Ogden SBIF will incorporate portions of the Near West Side community and will be funded with $1 million in existing TIF increment.

The SBIF program encourages commercial and industrial business owners to invest in their property by making TIF funds available for building improvements. 

Applicants can receive reimbursement grants of up to $150,000 for both exterior and interior improvements such as new windows, floors, green and conventional roofs, heating and air conditioning systems and other energy-saving or green improvements.

SBIF currently operates within 68 TIF districts.  Funding for SBIF comes from available TIF monies in each of the areas.  To date, the SBIF program has helped more than 350 businesses with $10.7 million in project assistance.

The Little Village TIF district is roughly bounded by Kenton and Kedzie avenues, 31st Street, and the Sanitary and Ship Canal in the 22nd Ward.

The Roosevelt/Cicero TIF, located within the Roosevelt/Cicero Industrial Corridor is roughly bounded by Lexington Street, Roosevelt Road, Menard and Springfield avenues in the 24th and 29th Wards.

The Western/Ogden TIF has roughly the same boundaries as the Western/Ogden Industrial corridor and is located primarily between Congress Parkwaty, 21st Street, California Boulevard and Ashland  Avenue in the 2nd, 25th and 28th Wards.

SBIF Refunding

Two other ordinances authorize an additional $1 million in funding for two existing Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) programs in the Portage Park community providing additional funding to help owners of commercial and industrial properties make improvements to their properties.

The Belmont Central SBIF program will be funded with $500,000 from the Belmont Central TIF district and include parts of the 30th, 31st, 36th 38th and 45th Wards.  The Portage Park SBIF will be funded with $500,000 from the Portage Park TIF district and include parts of the 38th and 45th Wards.

The SBIF program encourages commercial and industrial business owners to invest in their property by making TIF funds available for building improvements. 

Applicants can receive reimbursement grants of up to $150,000 for both exterior and interior improvements such as new windows, floors, green and conventional roofs, heating and air conditioning systems and other energy-saving or green improvements.

Montrose/Clarendon TIF District

Introduced also was an ordinance authorizing the creation of the Montrose/Clarendon tax increment financing (TIF) district in the Uptown community.

Creation of the TIF district will support the redevelopment of the former Columbus-Maryville Hospital site and help support a project that is currently under consideration to create parking, a hotel, retail redevelop and rental and for-sale housing in multiple phases. 

The TIF district will be bounded by Lake Shore Drive, Montrose, Wilson and Clarendon avenues in the 46th Ward.

Testa Produce Inc.

Another ordinance authorizes the issuance of up to $15.2 million in Recovery Zone Facility Bonds for the construction of a 73,000 square foot produce distribution facility at 4555 South Racine Avenue in the City’s New City community.

The $20.5 million project will be designed to include state-of-the-art distribution technology for efficient material handing and include freezer, dry storage and office space in the 11th Ward.

Testa Produce is a family-owned business that has operated in Chicago since 1912.  The new facility will replace an outdated facility and retain 120 jobs and create a minimum of 20 new jobs and 235 temporary construction jobs.

The building will be designed with the goal of achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the use of environmentally-friendly practices in its construction and operation.

Park Douglas ― Phase I

The next ordinance authorizes the issuance of $8.3 million in loans, the sale of 27 City-owned parcels and fee waivers for the construction of Park Douglas Phase I in the North Lawndale community.

B-M Ogden, LLC plans to construct 19 mixed-income buildings with137 units of new rental housing with a mix of one to four bedroom apartments.  All the buildings will be three-stories and offer 28 market-rate, 49 affordable and 60 replacement units for former CHA residents.  The building types will range from two- to 17-unit structures. 

The $ 43.9 million development will provide housing for the former Lawndale Complex and Ogden Courts public housing developments and is part of the CHA’s Plan for Transformation. 

Park Douglas is the first phase of a larger development which will include 300 units of rental housing on the 28th Ward.

The development will be located in the area bounded by Roosevelt Road, California, Talman and Ogden avenues.

City financing will also include $2.7 million in low-income housing tax credits, generating $21.9 million in equity and the writedown of City-owned land valued at $774, 696 along with $1.1 million in donated land from the CHA will generate $724,000 in donations tax credit equity for the project.

Byrd Academy/St. Boniface Acquisition

Also introduced was an ordinance that supports the preservation of significant architectural features of a church building and the development of new senior housing in the City’s West Town community. 

The City will enter into an agreement to acquire the former St. Boniface Church campus at 1358 West Chestnut Street in exchange for the former Byrd School at 363 West Hill Street from the Board of Education. 

The City intends to sell the property to St. Boniface Senior Living, LLC for the construction of 75 independent living units for seniors, including 19 affordable units.  The architectural elements that will be incorporated into the new building include four towers with tile roofs, rose windows and the former main entrance of the church.

The City, in turn, will sublease the Byrd School to the Archdiocese of Chicago for renovation and use in the expansion of the nearby St. Joseph elementary school. 

In consideration for Byrd School, the City will provide funding from the Near South TIF to help in the expansion of Jones College Prep.

Vacant Property Purchase Program

Another ordinance would give the City the authority to purchase vacant land from banks and other entities for $1 after the owners have demolished the properties.

Under the new initiative, to be called the Vacant Property Purchase Program, banks and other entities that own vacant properties that are targeted for demolition would pay for the costs of all demolition and  fines and fees associated with the property and the City would then purchase the land for future development use.