HRA looks at next steps for ongoing projects, considers unknowns from Legislature

Kirsten Wisniewski | May 24, 2025

The Cook County Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) held their May meeting on May 21. As they prepare for their June meeting, which will be used for strategic planning, the organization worked through a selection of updates on ongoing projects.

The Heights

Dirt work has begun on The Heights, and an official groundbreaking ceremony has been announced for June 3. The HRA board voted at their May meeting to grant the project additional funds to help subsidize the rent on some units. The 36 total units will consist of some market rate apartments, and some that are income-qualified, with reduced rents for those who earn within 60% of 80% of the county’s Annual Median Income (AMI).

HRA Executive Director Jeff Brand told WTIP that the estimated date of opening for the building is September.

Temperance Trail

The May HRA meeting also touched briefly on an ongoing discussion about both Tofte’s Temperance Trail project specifically, and more generally, the process the HRA uses to vet the developers they contract to work with. Because several commissioners were absent from the meeting, the board opted to postpone any decisions around establishing more guidelines for selecting developers until their June meeting.

The conversation was spurred by information brought to both the HRA and WTIP about Temperance Trail developer Green Bull, LLC, and the legal complaints that have been made against the company in recent years. Brand told WTIP that while the board is planning to have a discussion about how to move forward, there have also been conversations about the current contract. He said that the contract has not changed at this time, though both parties are still examining the situation.

Since the initial publication of a story about the complaints made against Green Bull, WTIP received a statement from company owner Peter Grubish. In the statement, Grubish wrote, “It is important to clarify that these past issues do not reflect my current business practices or the operations of Green Bull LLC today. The company has taken significant steps to strengthen financial management, improve project oversight, and ensure that all work is completed to the highest professional and ethical standards. I categorically reject the claims that Green Bull LLC has engaged in systemic misconduct such as abandoning projects, delivering substandard work, refusing to honor warranties, or diverting client funds.”

He added, “Green Bull LLC remains fully committed to the success of the Tofte project and to serving the community with transparency, accountability, and professionalism. I welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with the Housing Redevelopment Authority and other stakeholders to address any concerns and to demonstrate our capacity to complete this important development.

Housing support from the legislature

While the HRA is most concerned with supporting projects in Cook County, changes at the state and federal level also impact the work they do. Brand said though the legislature passed a housing bill before the end of the session, there is a lot of unsettled business that will impact housing across the state.

As the legislature heads for a special session, Brand said he is tracking the progress of bills related to bonding and Health and Human Services. Since some funding for infrastructure projects, HHS, and housing programs, comes through the state but originates at the federal level, Brand said there could be “cascading effects.”

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke with HRA Executive Director Jeff Brand. Audio of that interview is below.