WEST TOWN — Neighbors on a West Town block are upset over a developer's plan to buy a swath of city-owned land for $6 to build affordable single-family homes — a move they say will change the character of the desirable street and drive down the values of their homes.
The three-bedroom, 2,500-square-foot homes would list for $247,000, and the buyers must stay in their home for at least 15 years, said developer Luis Castro of Humboldt Park-based L & MC Investments.
The homes would be earmarked only for individuals or families earning no more than 120 percent of the city's median income, which based on the current formula would be $66,360 per year.
One resident estimated that the six lots between 2327-2341 W. Erie St. are worth $450,000 each.
Standing in front of the land on Tuesday afternoon, about 20 residents of the block, who own a mix of ranch homes, two-flats and modern mansions, met with Castro.
Peter Strazzabosco, deputy commissioner for the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, confirmed that the negotiated sale price is $1 per lot for the six lots.
Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26th) was not at the Tuesday gathering and did not respond to requests for comment on the proposed sale, which a city source said follows two failed city attempts in 2015 and 2016 to find an affordable housing developer for the site at the $1-per-lot rate.
The land has been empty since 2009, when the city closed a rodent control location and later demolished the facility in June 2011, according to neighbors who say they have been discussing the future of the land with Maldonado since at least 2012.
On Thursday, members of the Plan Commission are scheduled to vote on a resolution recommending a proposed ordinance authorizing the sale, according to the agenda.
Julie Sawicki, a real estate agent who lives across from the site, said that lots alone are worth $450,000 on the same block, with a home similar to her own ranch having been sold for that amount last year, only to be torn down and replaced with a new modern mansion.
Sawicki estimated the market value of the six lots at $3 million.
"Why is our city selling land worth $3 million for $6? That's why the city is broke," Sawicki said.
A large part of the discussion with Castro and the neighbors centered on the look of the project. Neighbors objected to the homes' vinyl siding and that the homes would not have garages in the back, only cement slabs for parking, among other things.
"We are concerned that these homes will lower surrounding property values and will not fit in with the character of the new homes in this area. We wanted to work together with the alderman on a solution for this land since we care about our neighborhood and will be impacted directly," Sawicki said.
Jason Vargas, whose home is next to the lots, said that for the last few years, the land had turned into an "unofficial dog park."
One of six homes proposed for city-owned land on Erie Street just east of Western pic.twitter.com/S8W5sbHo4i
— Alisa Hauser (@DNA_WPB) June 14, 2017
"I went to Alderman Maldonado's office to ask what could be done about the fact that the lots had become an dog park, and soon there were fences up covering the site, and I was told by [Maldonado] about the plan to sell the lots," Vargas said.
The group said they would have welcomed the land being partially used for a dog park or community garden, or sold to a private developer at market rate, and then having the city require that developer to build some portion onsite as affordable housing.
"My neighbors and I have made several attempts over the last three years as concerned neighbors to meet with Maldonado. In doing so, he has failed to show up for meetings, abruptly ended a meeting with us and has demonstrated no interest in hearing our concerns," Vargas said.
residents speak curb-side with Luis Castro on Tuesday pic.twitter.com/K3fSDxMkcB
— Alisa Hauser (@DNA_WPB) June 13, 2017
