Affordable Housing Update

November 12, 2025

Purpose: The purpose of the Affordable Housing Committee (the “Committee”) is to promote AH in Park and to perform other duties as described below:

  1. Monitor City Council (Council) and Planning and Zoning (P&Z) meetings when affordable housing is on the agenda, such  as discussions around the Comprehensive Plan or other housing or zoning  policy.
  2. Make verbal or written public comments to Council and P&Z in support of policies that promote creation and preservation of affordable housing.
  3. Stay informed about affordable housing issues and seek to educate the membership of Action Ridge, city officials, and the citizens of Park Ridge.  
  4. Make recommendations to Council and P&Z on Housing Policy for Park Ridge.
  5. Plan and execute an educational presentation on the topic of affordable housing for an Action Ridge meeting at least once each year.

 

Update: Recent Activities

·      Lobbying City Council to implement the AH Plan approved in April 2024

o  Monitoring city council and PZC meetings for any discussion of the AH Plan and AH development throughout 2024-2025

o  Public comments and email communications to city council throughout 2024-25

o  Change.org Petition calling for implementationof the AH Plan in summer 2025 that received over 170 signatures before closing it

o  Email communications with Drew Awsumb, Community Preservation and Development Director, requesting information, timing, and milestones regarding AH Plan implementation

o  Result: Director Awsumb held discussions with PZC, city council, and alderpersons and has a Plan of Action, dividing the 8 implementation strategies of the Plan between City Council, PZC, and Staff with the goal of having specific ordinances in place by summer of 2026

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·      Monitoring PZC and city council for any discussion of the new Comprehensive Plan, including the Uptown Master Plan; submitted comments to ensure that the AH Plan was mentioned and included as applicable throughout the UMP.  

·      Developed and sent out a brief questionnaire on AH to candidates for Mayor and Alderperson in April 2025.  Received responses from all but 2 candidates

·      Discussion of the City of Rockford’s Economic Development Plan, built around creating AH, and how it might apply to Park Ridge

·      Facilitated a meeting between Director Awsumb and Richard Koenig, ED of HODC and an expert on AH

·      Visited the National Public Housing Museum in September 2025

·      3 members of the Committee met with Mayor Maloney to discuss AH Plan implementation and possible formation of a Housing Task Force on 11/12/2025

·      Bi-monthly submissions to the Action Ridge email update to educate the public on matters relating to AH at the city, state, and national level

 

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