Good Afternoon, My name is John Ellis, Vice President with the Sustainable Englewood
Initiatives a local advocacy organizations working to improve the conditions in Greater
Englewood and to ensure a more sustainable future. Our President is John Paul Jones.
Thank you for conducting the city’s first 10 year Statue Report on the Englewood
Neighborhood TIF. Developing a platform to assess the redevelopment plan, financial assistance, program outcomes and job creation activities on our neighborhood TIF is most commendable.
The Englewood Neighborhood TIF enjoyed many annual contributions through its
Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP). The NIP provided home improvements to homeowners and helped to leverage private investments in the district. In fact, our local
TIF recorded the most NIP projects than the entire city TIF’s.
Going forward, it our collective hope that the City would become even more creative on how best to leverage private investments and ensure job/contract access to local projects. We request that the City of Chicago and its Departments perform the following activities with tax revenue from the Englewood Neighborhood TIF:
Ensure local contributions in 2014 toward the necessary parcel identification and intergovernmental agreements to break ground on the New Englewood Remaking
America (ERA) Trail that is situated along 59 th Street.
That the NIP Program and its governing ordinance be amended to allow for a host of
Green development project funding. The recently agreed upon Community Benefit
Agreement with DHED requires that an Environmental Fund be established using the
NIP process. Sustainable Englewood Initiatives will need for the ordinance to be amended to accommodate our environmental remediation needs. SEI stands prepared to assist your offices.
That the Micro-Market Ordinance for the Englewood Neighborhood TIF be improved upon to ensure greater stabilization strategies to save homes from demolition and better protect historically significant properties.

Stand prepared to protect the human and legal rights of the homeowners impacted by the Norfolk Southern Railroad expansion in Englewood. That the rail company works in good faith with the citizens and that “no” eminent domain proceedings occur during this fall and winter season.
That the city’s vacant parcel programs be fully explained and understood within the
Englewood Neighborhood TIF, to again encourage greater stakeholdership and buy in, while simultaneously increasing private investment.
To go out and bid in 2014 contracts governing the Neighborhood Improvement
Program (NIP) to encourage joint venture activities with contractors. Currently, local suppliers and labors our far removed from these contract opportunities. It is important for the city to maximum contracting to ensure a broader public benefit.
That the City strengthens its notification process to ensure impacted taxpayers are informed. As the administration is aware, no genuine notification procedure occurred with the railroad expansion plan and its intent to industrialize sections of the Englewood
Neighborhood residential district. Equally important, that the community be notified when tax dollars are ported in or out the tax district fund.
That the City Department of Housing and Economic Development conduct a public hearing and/or meeting on its anticipated draft Green Healthy Neighborhood Ordinance.
We understand the ordinance will impact the redevelopment outcomes of the
Englewood Neighborhood TIF.
In terms of the capital spending program of this TIF district. It is our hope that the City will direct TIF dollars to rehabilitate the historically significant Green Line
– Racine
Station at 63 rd Street. That the proposed Lindblom Park Soccer and Football Field to be financed with TIF Dollars will also include a bike/skate/track path alongside the scheduled project.
To this end, thank you for this status hearing on the Englewood Neighborhood TIF.
Sustainable Englewood Initiatives looks forward to working you and gaining your support on future projects. www.SustainableEnglewood.org