No CBA? No hotel!

There can't be equitable development in South Shore or Woodlawn until our Community Benefits Agreement demands are realized in full. Development needs to happen in our neighborhood, driven by the community's needs and without displacement.

In April, an application was submitted by Aquinnah Investment Trust, an investment group run by Allison Davis, real-estate developer and friend of former President Barack Obama. It would re-zone the lot next to Island Terrace, an affordable-housing complex, to develop a 26 story hotel. Without a CBA in place, this development will exacerbate the already-spiraling housing conditions in the neighborhood and speed up gentrification and displacement.

Despite its promises, the City has not fulfilled Woodlawn or South Shore CBA demands, which would prevent developments like this from displacing us from the neighborhood.

Join us Tuesday, 4-29 at 9am at 6430 S Stony Island for a press conference and rally to let the Mayor, City Council and luxury developers know that we need a CBA to protect against displacement BEFORE major developments happen in the neighborhood.

This proposed hotel is just one recent example of developers targeting the area. In the past three years, developers have been buying up a larger share of property in South Shore than in other neighborhoods. This is according to the DePaul Institute for Housing Studies. Further, we see time and time again how the community suffers when we don't have investments in place, like the CBA demands to make sure tenants, home owners, and condo owner can thrive in the neighborhood.

Also don’t forget: Tell your friends and mark your calendars for Saturday, June 21, 11am-2pm—location to be announced—for our 3rd annual CBA summit. With CBA Coalition Members, Alderman Desmon Yancy, Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor, we will continue to forge the strategies to win resources for all of us in the neighborhood. Sign up to come at bit.ly/cbasummit3