Housing forum marks year anniversary of Skokie Voice

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A panel on housing issues at a recent forum included (from left) Richard Koenig of Housing Opportunity Development Corp., Howard Handler of North Shore-Barrington Association of Realtors and Terry Oline from Skokie. Jeff Krage | for Sun-Times Media

Updated: October 26, 2011 12:13AM

Almost a year to the day Skokie Voice pushed the village to hold a well-attended town hall meeting on a plethora of topics, the active ad-hoc residents’ association was back again with a community forum on housing issues.

Last year’s town hall meeting was attended by some 500 people, and even though the residents’ association had not yet been created, it was really the impetus that allowed Skokie Voice to form a short time later.

“It’s always been about better communication with the village,” said Skokie Voice Chairwoman Lisa Lipin. “That’s been our goal from the start.”

If it seems like more than a year since Skokie Voice first formed, that’s because it’s been such a busy and ambitious year for the group. The association adopted bylaws and broke out into different committees intended to address issues that are most important to residents. It’s held several other well-attended events.

The June 22 community forum on housing, which drew more than 100 people to Oakton Community Center, was the second forum Skokie Voice has held in 2011. It’s not surprising that the topic was chosen since housing issues have become so significant since the economy turned so sour.

Skokie, in fact, has been one of the hardest hit communities in the area for foreclosures in recent years although village officials have said that there are small signs of improvement.

“The primary focus for many people at the forum had to do with property management,” said Julie Naumiak who chairs Skokie Voice’s housing committee. “People have concerns about the upkeep of property and they haven’t necessarily felt that they have been heard.”

They were heard June 22 when the forum brought together an important panel to address topics on housing.

Naumiak formed questions for the panel that were based in part on results from a survey that Skokie Voice posted on its website. The experts also answered a myriad of questions from residents at the forum on a variety of housing topics.

The panel included Village of Skokie Property Standards Supervisor Terry Oline and Director of Community Development Peter Peyer; Howard Handler, government affairs director of the North Shore-Barrington Association of Realtors; and Richard Koenig, executive director of the Housing Opportunity Development Corp.

The village officials outlined housing ordinances and enforcement procedures, including issues concerning nuisance complaints and over-occupancy.

Handler addressed the high foreclosure rate in Skokie compared with rates in surrounding communities while Koenig discussed affordable housing opportunities in Skokie and the differences between affordable housing and Section 8/Housing Choice Vouchers.

“People walked away with a better understanding and a way of moving forward,” Naumiak said. “I think they had their questions answered.”

Naumiak said that residents want to see better enforcement — especially when it comes to property management in the village. The committee will meet with village officials, she said, so that it can work together to address concerns.

Skokie Voice promises to hold other timely and informative forums in the coming year, Lipin said.

Its next meeting is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. July 20 at the Skokie Library to explore new ideas about making Skokie a smarter community based on economic development and environmental sustainability.

Skokie Voice has also been active recently in circulating a petition asking for lighting and road improvements to Crawford Avenue, a county street. Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin has contacted Lipin about the subject, she said.

In addition to housing, Skokie Voice has formed committees on  community safety, economic development, the environment and schools. 

For more information about Skokie Voice, access www.skokievoice.org.