Jack Markowski, the city's housing commissioner since 1999, is resigning his Cabinet-level post as change at the top continues in Mayor Richard Daley's new term.þþMarkowski, 56, said Monday that he had accepted a job as president of Park Bank Initiatives, the not-for-profit real estate development affiliate of Park National Bank.þþÿI am going to be leading the efforts to improve the communities in the vicinities of bank branches,ÿ he said. Initial efforts will be on new residential projects in Chicago's Pullman and Englewood neighborhoods.þþÿIt's an opportunity to return to more hands-on community development, from downtown to the trenches, but from a private-sector perspective on behalf of the bank,ÿ Markowski said. ÿIt's kind of a logical next step.ÿþþAld. Ray Suarez (31st), chairman of the City Council's Housing Committee, praised Markowski as a hard worker ÿwho tries to bring as many [affordable] housing projects as he possibly can to the city.ÿþþÿHe worked with us to make sure people understood [that] people need affordable housing,ÿ said Kevin Jackson, executive director of the Chicago Rehab Network. ÿHe was both a leader and had the technical know-how. That is a terrific set of assets... . We could agree to disagree if we needed to, but we kept [our] eyes on the prize.ÿþþOne area of disagreement was on a proposal to require developers citywide to reserve 15 percent of the units they built for low- and moderate-income purchasers.þþMarkowski echoed Daley on the issue, contending that such a sweeping requirement would discourage development in the city. But Markowski helped shepherd a compromise measure through the City Council last month that imposes a 10 percent moderate-cost requirement in projects of 10 units or more when city land is sold for the project, when a zoning change increases density or when the zoning is changed from another use to residential.þþUnder an earlier measure during Markowski's tenure, downtown residential developers who receive a density bonus are required to contribute to an affordable-housing fund.þþIn 2003, Markowski outlined a city plan to sponsor development of a complex on the South Side designed for families with foster children.þþFor Daley, Markowski's departure later this month means one more top level vacancy to fill.þþPlanning Commissioner Lori Healey left her post earlier this year to become Daley's chief of staff. Police Supt. Philip Cline is retiring later this summer. Cortez Trotter, the city's chief emergency officer, left for a private-sector job last week. Other open spots includes the city's chief financial officer, buildings commissioner and executive director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.þþ
Source: Chicago Tribune
