RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE WOODLAWN CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE TRANSFORMATION PLAN
WHEREAS, The proposed redevelopment of Chicago's Grove Pare Plaza and revitalization of the surrounding Woodlawn community has been selected as one of six finalists by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for funding through its Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) program; and
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago is a named co-applicant to the lead applicant, Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc., in the CNI application; and
WHEREAS, If selected as a winning proposal by HUD, the City of Cliicago, the Woodlawn neighborhood and its residents will benefit from a $30.5 million grant, which in turn is expected to leverage a total of $220 million in development and services; and
WHEREAS, These funds, if successfully obtained, will be used to implement sustainable community development measures, including a mixture of affordable and market rate housing, schools, social services, public safety initiatives, infrastructure improvements and other needs described by the community in the application; and
WHEREAS, The POAH-City of Chicago application is joined in and supported by more than a dozen community institutions; and
WHEREAS, HUD will prioritize funding for applications featuring a commitment of city resources, including CDBG funds, as being reflective of strong local support; and
WHEREAS, This commitment would be used exclusively in Woodlawn in the 2010 HUD Choice Neighborhood application (and, in the event that the Choice Neighborhood grant is not awarded, the committed funds would be automatically rescinded without further action of the City Council); now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this fourth day of May, 2011, pursuant to the opportunity presented and the obligations required by HUD, do strongly support the City's efforts to pursue these revitalization funds and will look favorably upon a commitmen...
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