Christine Preacher, speaking for residents of Forest View Park, told the Blue Island City Council the community organized when the park faced closure and asked the council to consider an alternative to shuttering the site. "This is a community that's been visited for over 40 years," Preacher said, and she said many residents are local workers and long-term neighbors.

Dr. Cannon Van Williams, introduced by Rock USA and identifying himself as the managing founder of Proactive Realty Group and Proactive Sustainable Bonds, told the council his firm repositions troubled manufactured-home communities and aims to keep rents "20 to 30% below most market rents." He described steps his team typically takes, including improving lighting and landscaping, replacing dilapidated homes with energy-efficient units and enforcing property rules to reduce code violations.

"We are a third party verified social impact fund," Williams said, adding his group uses outside reporting and impact evaluation to track results. He said his firm owns other properties in Illinois and nearby communities and that Proactive's investment model focuses on affordability and stabilization rather than rapid resale.

Pete Silverman, the seller's attorney who joined on Zoom, said the ownership recognizes the property's challenges and has been working with the city. "We totally recognize it's a difficult property," Silverman said, and described the purchase proposal as "very promising and viable and preferable to closing down the park," while stressing the ultimate decision rests with the city.

Council members and staff described the municipal process that governs property sales and transfers, noting the sale process begins when the property owner files an intent to sell and that subsequent steps involve zoning, building and environmental reviews. City administration said no formal filing in that process had been received as of the meeting and that the city would have additional information once buyer and seller begin the required steps.

The council took no formal action on the proposed purchase during the meeting. The owner's attorney said the owner would follow city directives about closure or transfer, and resident organizers said they would continue to pursue the proposed sale as an alternative to closing the park.