BPI and CHA Reach Agreement on Replacing Lathrop Public Housing Units

The Chicago Housing Authority and BPI reached an agreement in federal court Thursday that calls for CHA to develop on Chicago’s North Side 525 family public housing units that will not be replaced on site as part of the proposed mixed-income redevelopment of the former Julia C. Lathrop Homes public housing project.

In a conference with Judge Marvin Aspen, who oversees the Gautreaux housing case, CHA committed to creating 630 new North Side units, 525 of which will be for families and 105 for seniors.

Instead of a specific development timeline, which BPI viewed as unrealistic, the agreement provides that CHA will take “all possible steps” to develop the off-site units, including seeking the aid of the Court if necessary to overcome any obstacles, and that it will report regularly and in writing, both to the Court and to BPI, on its progress.

In a jointly released statement, BPI and CHA said “we are pleased that . . . new, quality affordable housing will be made available to low-income residents on the North Side of Chicago.”

Alex Polikoff, BPI Senior Staff Counsel and lead lawyer representing the Gautreaux plaintiffs, said he is “pleased that this agreement clears the way for the long-delayed mixed-income Lathrop redevelopment to proceed, and that the redevelopment will entail no loss of public housing on the North Side of Chicago.”

Papers will soon be filed with the Gautreaux court to spell out the specifics of the agreement as part of a court order.

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