The NBOA has actively advocated for housing providers on a range of issues. Over the past five years alone, we have addressed these critical issues among many others:
The “Bring Chicago Home” Referendum. Although many forces combined to defeat this referendum, which called for an increase on Chicago’s title transfer tax, the NBOA received recognition for our role in promoting a reasoned opposition to the measure while acknowledging the need to address homelessness. Early in the development of the referendum, the NBOA surveyed housing providers to determine its possible impact if it were approved—and increased rent was the most likely outcome. As a result, this study, and our subsequent participation in the debate, received prominent media coverage.
Rent Control. There is a regular drumbeat in some progressive circles that a legal cap on rent increases is the solution to the affordable housing crisis. The NBOA has been part of a broad effort opposing this idea. We have noted that not only would rent control decimate the housing stock, it would also disproportionately benefit more affluent renters, like those living downtown and along the lakefront, who can afford to stay in their apartments for many years.
Eviction reform. The NBOA has carved out a uniquely effective role in working with organizations involved in the eviction process. We recognize that every eviction is a tragedy for all parties involved. As a result of our reasonable and fair-minded approach, we were able to contribute to changes in court procedures which reduced the time needed for a first appearance (first returns) from over one hundred days to much closer to 30 days.
Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance. Our lobbyist, Joe Moore, worked with our industry partners to amend the Cook County Board’s effort to expand Chicago’s Landlord Tenant Ordinance to suburban Cook County. Most importantly, it gave suburban housing providers the right to cure inadvertent violations of the ordinance before being subjected to heavy fines.
Property taxes. The NBOA alerted members of the Cook County Board to a major change in the way the Cook County Assessor’s office assessed mixed-use buildings under section 3-18 in the property tax code. Instead of assessing them at the customary 10 percent rate governing residential buildings, the Assessor started to assess the commercial portions of the buildings at the commercial rate of 25 percent. This change threatened to decimate many commercial corridors and, due to the declining demand for the commercial spaces, lead to increased rents on many of the most affordable homes in the county. Largely because of the attention we brought to this measure, the Assessor’s office revised its policy so that only buildings with an area of 20,000 to 99,999 square feet are taxed at 25% of fair market of value if 60% is used for commercial purposes. Previously, this threshold was much lower; and we worked with Commissioner Josina Morita in successfully urging the Assessor’s office to make this fair adjustment.