Chicago Council Passes Affordable Housing Ordinance For Woodlawn

CHICAGO — The Chicago City Council on Wednesday passed an ordinance aimed at protecting homeowners and low-income residents from displacement in Woodlawn.

The Woodlawn Housing Ordinance, the council said in a news release, also aims to create more opportunities for people to become homeowners in the area and create equitable growth.

According to the news release, the ordinance sets aside more than $4.5 million for investment in expanded housing programs and leverages another $5 million from banks and lenders. it also steps up tenant protections, hiring requirements and mandates on how city-owned vacant land can be used.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement that the ordinance reinforces the council's dedication to Woodlawn residents.

“Since day one, our efforts have been focused on building economic growth and cultural enrichment in the Woodlawn community while also ensuring that every neighborhood resident is able to stay in their homes and share the transformative promise by the Obama Presidential Center,” Lightfoot said.

The ordinance includes allowances for affordable housing units, a refinancing program to keep rent low in existing apartment buildings, grants for rehabilitation and repairs to existing homes and a pilot program that gives tenants first right of refusal should a building owner look to sell the building.

The pilot program prevents tenants from being displaced during the sale of a building, instead allowing them to form tenants' associations or make deals with a non-profit affordable housing developer.

During the meeting, Alderman Leslie Hairston said the ordinance takes steps toward righting missteps made in the past and "has been a long time coming."

"These protections that we put in place will last for decades, so I’d like to commend everybody on the city," she said. "I am proud to support this ordinance."