North Chicago, Illinois, located on Lake Michigan near Chicago, has housed one of the Navy's three training centers since 1911. The Great Lakes Center in North Chicago will expand when planned military cutbacks force the closure of the Orlando and San Diego Naval Training Centers in the near future.

Action Plan

For the first year of the Consolidated Plan, the city of North Chicago is requesting $413,000 of Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. An additional $71,735 of program income will supplement the entitlement grant.

Citizen Participation

Lack of time and staff prevented the city from holding a public hearing to allow for public input on the data presented. Although not awarded, North Chicago/Waukegan Coalition's application for Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community status represents a recent example of active citizen involvement with community development issues.

For the Consolidated Plan process, social service agencies were contacted through mailings and by telephone. Meetings and discussions were held with the following agencies: Lake County Health Department, North Chicago Housing Authority, Neighborhood Housing Services of Lake County, and Lake County Department of Planning, Zoning and Environmental Quality. The Consolidated Plan was available to interested persons throughout the 30-day comment period.

Population in the city has decreased steadily from 47,275 in 1970 to 34,978 in 1990. The importance of the military population (61 percent of the total) is reflected in this statistic: although the number of individuals decreased, the number of households increased to 7,118. With the expansion of the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, population is expected to increase again by the year 2000.

Over half of the population of North Chicago is white, while 34 percent is African American, 9 percent is Hispanic, 4 percent is Asian American, and less than 1 percent is Native American. Between 1980 and 1990, only the white population decreased. The median age is 22 because of the presence of so many young enlistees at the Training Center.

Median family income (MFI) rose 41 percent from $16,850 in 1980 to $28,107 in 1990. This is still far below the 1990 MFI of $52,000 in surrounding Lake County.

Conditions

The Great Lakes Naval Training Center continues to be a strong asset to the community. The consolidation of the three nationwide training facilities at the North Chicago site will bring important changes in population, employment, and housing needs. An additional 9,000 military and civilian jobs will be created with the expansion. This will increase demand for housing.

Housing Needs

Very low-income households with housing problems total 1,796: this number represents more than half of the households in this income group. Housing problems may include: cost burden (paying more than 30 percent of income on housing costs) or severe cost burden (paying more than 50 percent of income on housing costs), overcrowding, and/or poor physical conditions. One-fourth of all very low-income households are experiencing severe cost burden, and over half are experiencing cost burden. Of the 742 moderate-income households, 95 are experiencing housing problems; 25 are experiencing cost burden; and none are experiencing severe cost burden.

Housing Market Conditions

There were 7,925 housing units in North Chicago as of 1990. The total vacancy rate was 10 percent, a 4-percent increase from 1980. Sixty-seven percent of the housing units were renter occupied. The median home value was $63,400 in 1990, up 29 percent from 1980.

Homeless Needs

North Chicago's Consolidated Plan draws its statistics on homelessness from the County of Lake Consolidated Plan. All statistics are countywide.

One county social service agency estimates that currently more than 60 area families with approximately 136 children are homeless per month. Most of these are headed by single women, and more than half of the families are African American. In addition, there are approximately 54 single men and 19 single women among the homeless each month.

Housing for the homeless, abused women and children, and substance abusers is currently being provided by religious and charitable groups in the county. Additional sites are needed.

North Chicago's 5-year goal is to significantly narrow the gap between the need for supportive housing and its availability. The county will monitor social services and oversee the administration of homeless programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Special emphasis will be placed on service coordination to eliminate unnecessary duplication.

Public and Assisted Housing Needs

The majority of public and assisted housing in North Chicago is under the jurisdiction of the North Chicago Housing Authority. It controls 150 public housing units and 307 Section 8 vouchers, 76 Section 8 certificates, and 41 moderate-rehabilitation units.

The Lake County Housing Authority operates the 125-unit Marion Jones Housing, also in North Chicago.

Barriers to Affordable Housing

There are no apparent barriers to affordable housing in the city of North Chicago. The city's zoning ordinance, building codes, and subdivision regulations impose no barriers to the affordable housing possibilities.

Lead-Based Paint

Lead was banned from residential paint in 1978, but the average home in North Chicago was built before then. Hazards such as flaking or peeling lead-based paint or excessive levels of tiny lead particles in household dust may exist in these older homes. Those most at risk are young children: in 1990, 43 percent of North Chicago families had children 5 years of age and under.

The city will reduce lead-based paint hazards by:

• Conducting inspections for lead-based paint hazards in homes of applicants under any eligible CDBG or HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) housing rehabilitation program. If such inspections conclude there is lead-based paint present, those surfaces will be treated.
• Providing applicants for housing rehabilitation loans with information about the dangers of lead poisoning.
• Requesting assistance from the Lake County Health Department for lead screening for children, environmental inspections of homes, information and consultations for families, and education programs.
• Using eligible rehabilitation funds for abatement.

Community Development Needs

North Chicago will focus on public facilities, infrastructure, public services, accessibility, economic development, and code enforcement. Activities with a lesser priority such as residential and non-residential historic preservation, energy efficiency improvements, and lead-based paint hazards will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Coordination

North Chicago's Community Development and Planning Department has assumed the responsibility of lead agency in the consolidated planning process. The department was in communication with other units of government in developing the Consolidated Plan.

Housing Priorities

North Chicago has a very high ratio of renters compared to the city of Waukegan and Lake County as a whole. The city would like to focus on supporting current homeowners and encouraging new homeowners. High priority has been given to assisting existing low-income homeowners with rehabilitation of their homes.

Although rents are average for the area, income levels for North Chicago residents are lower than those of the surrounding county. Rental assistance is not a priority, however, because North Chicago's goal is to provide adequate safe and decent housing and help more renters become homeowners. Rental rehabilitation is a priority, but it will be financed with HOME funds.

Non-Housing Community Development Priorities

Many different non-housing community development needs exist in the city of North Chicago, including the following:

• Public facilities. The highest priority has been given to child-care facilities. Assisting child-care facilities lowers the cost of enrollment and provides a safe environment for children while their parents join the labor force or obtain job training. Parks and recreational facilities received the second highest priority.
• Infrastructure improvements. The city will concentrate its efforts on water, sewer, street, and sidewalk improvements.
• Public services. The primary needs are crime awareness and health services. Other needs to be addressed and supported include, but are not limited to, youth services and employment training.
• Accessibility. Accessibility needs are a priority for the city. Emphasis will be placed on renovating the North Chicago City Hall to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities.
• Economic development. The city will allocate funds over the period of the Consolidated Plan to help businesses locate in the city or to help existing businesses expand or rehabilitate and improve their infrastructure.
• Other community development. Code enforcement has the highest priority in this category. Energy efficiency improvements and lead-based paint hazards will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Anti-Poverty Strategy

The city of North Chicago, along with Lake County public service providers, will work to provide low-income persons and families with supportive services. The city realizes that housing is the most critical problem faced by persons in poverty. North Chicago will continue to provide homeowner rehabilitation to those poverty-level households to ensure them a decent, safe, and sanitary place to live.

Housing and Community Development Resources

CDBG and HOME funds will be used. North Chicago receives HOME funds through a consortium with the urban Lake County and the city of Waukegan. The HOME program is overseen by the Lake County Affordable Housing Commission, an entity created by Lake County to stimulate affordable housing. Those funds are not listed in the action plan but will be used for new housing construction and rental rehabilitation for low- and moderate- income persons in the city.

Neighborhood Housing Services of Lake County, a nonprofit housing provider associated with a consortium of 14 financial institutions, will leverage funds in the form of mortgages to low- and moderate-income homebuyers.

The North Chicago/Waukegan Coalition will be seeking public and private funds to meet the goals established in the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community application.

Coordination of the Strategic Plan

The Community Development and Planning Department increasingly works to enhance coordination between public service providers and other government entities. Methods of enhancing coordination include providing assistance to local agencies through workshops and seminars. Other groups involved in carrying out Consolidated Plan activities include: the Five Point Economic Development Corporation, the North Chicago/Waukegan Coalition, and the Lake County Housing Task Force.

Description of Key Projects

There are 16 projects to be carried out in the first-year action plan. Major projects for the year include:

• $88,450 to assist eight low-income homeowners in bringing their dwelling units up to city/building code standards.
• $101,735 to provide low-interest loans to four new or existing businesses with the aim of creating one full-time job for every $10,000 loaned.
• $150,000 for street repair in low-income neighborhoods.
• $8,500 to provide free prescriptions and medication to medically under served low-income persons.
• $43,450 for youth services including: tutoring; girl scout activities for children in public housing; cultural arts; athletics; and the development of leadership, problem solving, and self-discipline skills.
• $10,000 to provide personal development and job training skills to unemployed and dislocated persons and high school dropouts over age 17.

Lead Agencies

Almost all projects under the Consolidated Plan will be administered by the Community Development and Planning Department. Other projects will be carried out by local nonprofit groups such as, but not limited to: HealthReach Clinic for the medically under served, Lake County Community Action Employment and Training, and the North Chicago Center for the Arts.

Maps

MAP 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate income areas.

MAP 3 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and minority concentration levels.

MAP 4 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and unemployment levels.

MAP 5 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.

MAP 6 is a map, sectioned by neighborhood, which depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects.

MAP 7 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within one of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6; in addition, a table provides information about the project(s).

MAP 8 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded projects within another of the four neighborhoods indicated in MAP 6.

MAP 9 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, unemployment levels, and proposed HUD funded project(s) from a street level vantage point.

Steven Sabourin
1850 Lewis Ave
North Chicago, IL 60064
Tel. (847) 578-7754
Fax. (847) 578-7437