Issue Overview
The South Shore and 63rd Blackstone Housing Preservation Ordinance was introduced in October 2023 by freshman Alderman Desmon Yancy (5th Ward). This legislation was a response to a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) that passed overwhelmingly (in 9 of 25 precincts of the 5th ward) as a non-binding resolution during the 2023 primary election.
The ordinance aimed to prevent displacement anticipated around the Obama Presidential Center. Initially, its boundaries included parts of the 5th, 7th and 8th Wards.
After nearly two years of inactivity, the ordinance was placed on the Housing and Real Estate Committee agenda in September 2025.
Original Provisions
The legislation included over a dozen anti-displacement measures, such as:
- Reserving city-owned land for affordable housing (30–60% AMI)
- Homeownership programs
- Property debt relief
- Establishing an Office of the Tenant Advocate
- A Tenant Opportunity to Purchase (TOP) pilot program
- A Residential Rental Registry
- Extending fair notice to 180 days for tenancies of 3+ years
- Relocation assistance of up to $11,000
While some provisions could expand homeownership, the original proposal carried an estimated cost of over $50 million.
REALTOR® Stance
REALTORS® support initiatives that promote homeownership and housing stability. However, we remain opposed to right of first refusal provisions within Tenant Opportunity to Purchase pilot programs due to:
- Infringement on private property rights and the potential to delay transactions, disadvantaging sellers who need to quickly sell their property
- Lack of any evidence that they result in successful tenant purchases
- Risk of future lawsuits against sellers, buyers and even tenants, further complicating transactions and increasing liability due to private right of action
REALTORS® advocate for effective, transparent and equitable housing solutions that avoid unintended consequences for property owners and tenants alike.
Legislative Outlook
Due to the short notice of the Housing and Real Estate Committee vote and the comprehensive scope of the ordinance, REALTORS® issued a Call for Action (CFA) requesting a delay. Staff received a substitute version of the ordinance less than 24 hours before the vote, prompting further requests for review time.
Our key concerns included:
- Inclusion of citywide policies such as the Office of the Tenant Advocate and Right to Eviction Counsel
- Expansion of the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase pilot, including right of first refusal, which had already caused confusion, delays and increased risk in the 606 TOP pilot program
Alderman Yancy initially agreed to remove the most controversial provisions. However, the Mayor and his staff refused to remove the entire Tenant Opportunity to Purchase section despite our agreement with the lead sponsor.
At the full City Council meeting, staff anticipated a Defer and Publish (D&P) maneuver to delay passage until later this year. However, a resolution drafted by REALTORS® calling for a subject matter hearing on all Tenant Opportunity to Purchase pilot programs quickly gained support, with all alderpersons involved in pilot areas co-sponsoring, led by Alderman Villegas (36th), who had recently withdrawn his ward from the 606 Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Pilot due to its challenges.
With the momentum of the hearing on Tenant Opportunities to Purchase Pilot Programs and a commitment to continued collaboration with Alderman Yancy, the revised Jackson Park Housing Preservation Pilot Program was passed by the City Council on September 25, 2025.
Click here to review a comparison chart of the original proposal and the proposal that was passed. Please note, anything highlighted in green was kept in the final proposal.
Also, click here to view a map of the pilot area on page 18.