What comes next?
A timeline history of NEIU and its properties on Bryn Mawr
Northeastern Illinois University has decided to lease its property between Kimball and Bernard, first acquired in 2016. In June of 2022, the University Board of Trustees passed a motion to hire a real estate services firm to solicit development proposals. Since that time, the University has undergone significant leadership changes, with a new President and a new Board of Trustees. The Hollywood-North Park Community Association continues to insist that community voice be a part of this process. Read the chronology below to learn more.
2014
May
As part of its long-term strategic plan (“Decade of Dreams”), Northeastern Illinois University announces its intent to purchase additional property along Bryn Mawr. The plan includes mixed-use student housing on Bryn Mawr in addition to other campus improvements. (See the original 2014 map here.)
July
NEIU declares its intention to use the power of eminent domain to acquire private property on Bryn Mawr Avenue in order to build student dormitories.
November
The University begins convening the Northeastern Neighborhood Network to facilitate communication with neighbors. The group meets through November 2017.
2015
March
NEIU decides to build student housing on its existing campus first while still pursuing the Bryn Mawr properties.
2016
January
NEIU wins court approval to finalize its acquisition of the entire 3400 block of West Bryn Mawr via the State’s power of eminent domain.
2018
June
Dr. Gloria Gibson becomes president of NEIU.
HNPCA has made community input at NEIU a top priority
At the end of 2017, the Hollywood-North Park Community Association relaunched with a new mission, new bylaws, and new Board.
2019
January 18
HNPCA Chair Andrew Johnson meets with NEIU President Gibson and her Chief of Staff Mike Dizon. He emphasizes to them how important the fate of the Bryn Mawr properties is to the neighborhood and urges them to include the community in shaping their future development.
2020
February 3
Mike Dizon from NEIU, Erika Wozniak from Alderman Nugent’s office, and HNPCA Chair Andrew Johnson meet to plan for the possibility of a community meeting in April at which specific proposals for the Bryn Mawr properties could be made public and discussed openly. Both the HNPCA and Alderman Nugent are willing to proceed; NEIU agrees to provide space for the meeting but declines to participate. Ultimately, the meeting is canceled in light of COVID-19.
May 18
HNPCA Chair Andrew Johnson makes a public comment to the NEIU Board of Trustees Finance, Buildings and Grounds Committee. He encourages the Board to pursue the positive redevelopment of the Bryn Mawr properties and requests that the community association be included in the process.
Public Meetings
With the assistance of the North River Commission and the participation of the Univeristy, the HNPCA convenes two public meetings in December 2020 and January 2021.
2020
August 25
In an e-mail to the University community, NEIU President Dr. Gloria Gibson writes the following in a section titled, “Future of Bryn Mawr and Avondale Properties”:
Due to the decline in enrollments and the changing landscape of residential housing at Northeastern and across higher education due to COVID-19, Northeastern has decided to explore its options for the future of the properties along the 3400 block of West Bryn Mawr Avenue. Northeastern has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for those properties, with no decision likely until early 2021. The RFP also includes the property near El Centro that was acquired in 2014. Proposals are asked to provide development options that Northeastern should consider, including but not limited to: mixed-use housing, environmental and sustainable land use, and retail/commercial space. Proposals are due Sept. 22, at which point Northeastern will assess its options. I will keep the University and neighboring communities updated during this process.
August 31
The HNPCA Board of Directors writes to President Gibson and, separately, the Board of Trustees, to request meaningful community participation in the process to select a real estate services firm and to evaluate the best use of the Bryn Mawr properties. We specifically cite the history of these properties as a reason that the University must do right by the community this time around:
The fate of these properties carries special significance for our neighborhood. As you know, in January 2016 the University finalized its acquisition of them via the blunt instrument of eminent domain in order to build student housing. In 2014, former NEIU President Sharon Hahs explained the University’s choice of an off-campus location as being partly about “what is the most help to the community sooner.” Even as the University understandably pursued its own institutional needs, it established a goal of improving the neighborhood as well.
Almost five years later, these properties stand mostly vacant. The University did not achieve its aim, and the neighborhood has suffered the loss of local businesses and its trust in the good faith of the University.
September
Alderman Samantha Nugent writes to President Gibson to support the inclusion of the HNPCA in this process.
President Gibson declines the HNPCA’s request to help select a real estate services provider but commits to “public input at certain points.”
October
The HNPCA requests a meeting with President Gibson to discuss what community input might look like.
HNPCA member Mary Lou Jelachich delivers a public comment to the NEIU Board of Trustees Executive Committee. She concludes by stating, “We want to work closely with the selected vendor so that there is a symbiotic relationship between the University and the North Park Community. We believe what benefits the University should also benefit the neighborhood!”
November
President Gibson promises to reach out to arrange “a tentative meeting” in December.
NEIU announces selection of real estate services advisory firm, Jones Lang LaSalle. President Gibson writes in an e-mail to the University community that, once the Board approves the contract, “we will have a firmer understanding of the next steps and the timeline. At that point, we will seek input from the University community and our neighbors.”
HNPCA member Mary Lou Jelachich delivers a public comment to the NEIU Board of Trustees Finance, Buildings and Grounds Committee. She delivers similar comments to the entire Board of Trustees a week and a half later.
December 15, 2020
The HNPCA hosts "Setting a Community Vision for NEIU's Eminent Domain Properties" to help members of the community discuss their preferences for eventual redevelopment. The following materials from the meeting are available:
January 21, 2021
The HNPCA and the North River Commission host "Redevelopment of NEIU's Bryn Mawr Properties" to present the results of a community survey and to provide NEIU with an opportunity to discuss their intentions. The following materials from the meeting are available:
2021
January
Northeastern Illinois University commits to a community engagement process that includes multiple stakeholders. Echoing HNPCA's requests dating back to August of 2020, the University
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launches a web page with information about its real estate study
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directs Jones Lang LaSalle to incorporate community engagement as part of its report
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commits to a bi-weekly "roundtable" conversation to include various community constituents, including a representative from HNPCA (Board member Reginald Newton participates on behalf of the Association)
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announces it will host its own public meeting on February 22.
March
Northeastern Illinois University receives a preliminary report from Jones Lang LaSalle and releases a summary. The minutes from the March 22 meeting of the Committee on Finance, Buildings, and Grounds characterize the report's findings as follows:
"The Bryn Mawr research yielded a recommendation for a mixed-use, multi-family development with ground floor retail utilizing a ground lease with additional income participation. A ground lease structure will allow Northeastern to maintain ownership of the land and provide for an element of control over programming. Property size and proximity to public transportation and area institutions, a mix of residential and retail make this an ideal location. Drawbacks are current zoning of the sites would limit the number of residences without a variance, and the current local liquor license restrictions make certain retail establishments not possible."
NEIU conducts their second community meeting on March 29; video is available here.
April
Jones Lang LaSalle submits its final report, a summary of which is made publicly available. The minutes of an April 14 special meeting of the Committee on Finance, Buildings, and Grounds revealed discussion of affordable senior housing as one component of the project:
"Brian Carroll, Executive Vice President at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) presented a report focused on the questions about retail and affordable senior housing on Bryn Mawr Avenue that arose from his last presentation in March. The lowest viable rate of return for developers of the retail space has been calculated at 14.5%. JLL recommends a minimum rental rate of $28 per square foot as the lowest possible rate to ensure an initial rate of return at 14.5% or better. As for the questions about affordable senior housing, Mr. Carroll recommended the university find a developer with this particular expertise to help quantify this project viability."
HNPCA Chair Andrew Johnson makes this statement to the full Board of Trustees at their meeting on April 15.
June
The Northeastern Illinois University Board of Trustees approves a motion to lease --- not sell --- its Bryn Mawr properties.
August
HNPCA Chair Andrew Johnson meets with NEIU President Gloria Gibson and Vice President for Finance and Administration Manish Kumar. The University confirms its commitment to public input about its Bryn Mawr properties. They also clarify that they are not in a position to improve any of the properties in their current state.e
The NEIU Board of Trustees Finance, Buildings and Grounds Committee meets on August 23, 2021. Included in its public materials is this timeline.
October
The University tells Block Club that it is still looking for a real estate services company to help market the properties to potential developers.
2022
June
At the NEIU Board of Trustees meeting on June 9, 2022, the motion to recommend Real Estate Broker Services from CBRE for the Bryn Mawr property passed. CBRE can now begin to solicit development offers for the Bryn Mawr properties.
December
The University announces that a public presentation will be held via Zoom on January 11, 2023, at which they will
"publicly advertise for the redevelopment of a long-term ground lease for the blocks at Bryn Mawr between North Kimball Avenue and North Bernard Street."
2023
After the January Zoom meeting at which real estate services firm CBRE described its intent to help the University lease the properties, the University makes no further public announcements and takes no further public action regarding the properties.
April
Governor J.B. Pritzker names 5 new members of the Board of Trustees.
June
The Board of Trustees names Dr. Katrina Bell-Jordan as Interim President for a one-year term lasting from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024.
2024
February
The Board of Trustees elects J. Todd Phillips as its new Chair.