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Monday May 8, 2006 – Evanston City Council votes to approve CLCLT as an Evanston CHDO (Community Housing Development Organization)

Citizens’ Lighthouse Community Land Trust’s application to become a community housing development organization in Evanston was approved by the City Council after recommendation by the Housing Commission and the Planning and Development Committee.

The following are selected comments from Aldermen taken from the video transcript of the meeting:

Alderman Bernstein: “I’ve seen a great energy from this group…I don’t want to stifle this energy…This has been a grassroots organization, whereas Ms. Betty Sue has worked tirelessly to get this thing together, this is the kind of thing that can work in this community and I’m supporting it.”

Alderman Jean-Baptiste: “I would think that if this organization is able to purchase one home a year over the next 20 years, this would be 20 homes that would be available, affordable, that would stay affordable for a long period of time…as opposed to the other organizations that create affordable units but these units are sold within a few years and get off the affordable housing pool…so I think this is a great approach….”

Alderman Moran: “We decry the fact that some of the organizations that we do fund don’t operate on a collaborative basis with other organizations. In point of fact, a community land trust is the kind of vehicle that allows us, by giving them this blessing, to become eligible to receive funds from other organizations, where they will work hand in glove…to create the full final product--which is a single family home that has a land lease on the land that they will own and maintain in perpetuity. We have a great opportunity….”

Alderman Wollin: “Other communities that have begun these kinds of programs have begun with land donations, so I would just urge anyone who wants to donate their land, that that would be a good beginning…

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CLCLT
P.O. Box 1046
Evanston, IL 60204 - 1046