RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, David L. Reifman is retiring as Commissioner of Planning and Development for the City of Chicago after four years of dedicated and distinguished service; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago City Council has been informed of his departure from city government by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, a native Chicagoan, David L. Reifman grew up in the Rogers Park community where he attended Sullivan High School; and
WHEREAS, David L. Reifman received his B.A. Degree from the University of Illinois in 1981 and an M. A. from that same institution in 1985; and
WHEREAS, David L. Reifman earned his Juris Doctor from Northwestern University; and
WHEREAS, as a real estate attorney and partner in the law firm DLA Piper, his tenure spanning twenty-seven years, David L. Reifman specialized in commercial, residential, industrial development, land use, tax increment financing (TIF), property evaluation, public/private partnerships, contract negotiations and historic preservation; and
WHEREAS, David L. Reifman received an appointment from former Mayor Rahm Emanuel to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Planning in August 2015; and
WHEREAS, as Commissioner, David L. Reifman oversaw 250 employees serving the department's Housing, Economic Development and Planning & Zoning Bureaus; the Commission on Chicago Landmarks and the Community Development Commission; and
WHEREAS, as Commissioner, David L. Reifman served as an ex officio member of the Chicago Plan Commission; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure, David L. Reifman, a recognized authority on zoning, advised on many notable community-improvement projects benefitting citizens and businesses across the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, notable among his many achievements was the pivotal role he played in the re-development of Wrigley Field and its surrounding properties; the Ryerson Steel development in Pullman; and inaugurating the rehabilitation of the Old Main Post Office and the Finkl Steel plant; and
WHEREAS, among the large-scale development proposals resulting in significant private real estate investment strengthening Chicago's economy advanced by David L. Reifman were the Cortland/Chicago River TIF District culminating in City Council approval of the Lincoln Yards complex and the advancement of the proposed "78," a sixty-two acre mixed-use re-development adjoining the south branch of the Chicago River; and
WHEREAS, David L. Reifman was named to the Chicago Magazine "Power 50" listing for 2016 and through his vision, perseverance and drive, will be remembered as a transformative force for positive change in the urban environment; and
WHEREAS, through his wisdom and guidance, David L. Reifman has helped to craft a brighter economic future for the citizens of Chicago; now, therefore
BE IT RESOL VED, that we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council assembled this twentieth day of May, 2019, do hereby thank David L. Reifman for his five years of leadership, foresight and vision as Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development, and wish him the very best as he begins the next phase of his life; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to David L.
Reifman.