Yorelee (spelled in transcript Yorelee/Yorely) Huff, a developer who said she has been working with the Cook County Land Bank, told the board she is seeking county help after local zoning changes blocked plans for two parcels the Land Bank holds.

Huff said she is under contract to buy two parcels at "1728 East 70 Ninth Street" and "1703 East 70 Ninth Street" and that the alderman and city council approved a rezoning that changed the property from a commercial B3-2 designation to RS-1 residential. "This downzoning ... deprives the community of economic development," Huff said, adding that her project would provide construction jobs and incorporate apparel manufacturing and training. Huff said she submitted a petition opposing residential zoning with 125 signatures at the time and that it had grown to about 200.

Huff asked the county to intervene or assist in changing perceptions about the Cook County Land Bank, saying the land bank is being "bastardized for lack of knowledge and factual information." She identified herself as Yorelee Huff of DPY Management Inc. and said the conversion to residential zoning would delay her construction schedule and prevent permit issuance for planned work.

Huff's comments were made during the public-comment portion of the meeting; no formal board action on the Land Bank or the parcels was recorded in the meeting transcript.