Obama Center Housing Ordinance Passes City Council After 2-Year Delay And Overhaul

The City Council approved the Jackson Park Housing Pilot Ordinance, targeting affordable housing development on the South Side. The ordinance, introduced by Ald. Desmon Yancy, reserves city-owned lots for affordable apartments and homeownership initiatives. It allocates $3 million for renovating abandoned buildings and offers tax relief for property owners facing debt. While maintaining the original objectives of increasing housing accessibility near the Obama Presidential Center, the ordinance removed certain tenant protections, including caps on application fees and the establishment of a tenant advocate office.

Yancy emphasized the vital role of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration in reviving the stalled proposal. The approved ordinance focuses on a pilot area that includes parts of Woodlawn and South Shore, differing from the original plan that covered all of South Shore. At least 75% of the units developed must be affordable for residents earning up to 60% of the area median income, or $71,940 for a four-person household. Local voters expressed overwhelming support for affordable housing measures in a recent non-binding referendum, reinforcing the community's desire for such initiatives.