The Cook County Housing and Redevelopment Authority voted on Nov. 19 to pay $7,250 — half the $14,500 fee — to commission WIPFLI for an updated market analysis on senior living demand.

Jeff, HRA staff, told commissioners the last analysis was done more than a decade ago and that refreshed data would help the authority and potential developers understand current demand and support requests for proposals. "If we do an RFP, one of the first questions is going to be, do you have an analysis?" he said, arguing updated figures could reduce a barrier to developer interest.

Several commissioners questioned whether paying for a standardized outside study was the best use of limited funds. One commissioner (speaker 3) said such reports often rely on publicly available demographics and may undercount local demand, urging the board to spend money on direct development instead: "If we have $14,000 to spend, let's give it to Anna Hamilton. Money much better spent in my opinion," the commissioner said.

Commissioner Gamble and others recommended a middle path: use WIPFLI but insist the consultant incorporate local knowledge and work with commissioners who know the community. Gamble said local outreach and meetings would improve the study’s usefulness for Cook County decision-making.

After discussion about alternatives and expected uses of the study in future RFPs, a motion to approve the $7,250 contribution was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote. The record in the transcript shows the vote was conducted by voice; individual roll-call vote tallies and member-by-member votes were not specified in the meeting text.

Next steps outlined by staff included approaching the Economic Development Authority for a partnership contribution and asking the consultant to integrate local data and commissioner input into the final product.