Community Benefits Agreements: Why Black Chicago Needs Them, Why They’ve Been Rare, and How Segregation Shapes the OutcomeCommunity Benefits Agreements (CBAs) are one of the most powerful too

Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) are one of the most powerful tools communities can use to ensure that development projects deliver real, measurable benefits to the people who live nearby. In cities across the country, CBAs have helped residents secure local hiring, affordable housing, environmental protections, and millions of dollars in community investment.

But in Chicago — especially in Black neighborhoods — CBAs have been rare, weak, or entirely absent. To understand why, we must look at the history of development, segregation, and political power in the city.

1. What Is a Community Benefits Agreement?

A Community Benefits Agreement is a legally binding contract between a developer and a community coalition. It ensures that development benefits residents, not just investors.

A strong CBA includes:

• Local hiring requirements

• Affordable housing guarantees

• Funding for youth programs

• Support for small businesses

• Environmental protections

• Community space

• Public reporting and enforcement

CBAs turn development into a partnership, not an extraction.

2. Historical Context: Black Chicago and Development Without Benefits

For decades, Black neighborhoods have been the target of development, but not the beneficiaries.

Urban Renewal (1950s–1970s)

Black communities in Bronzeville, Woodlawn, and the Near West Side were demolished for:

• Universities

• Highways

• Hospitals

• Public facilities

Residents received no compensation, no relocation support, and no community benefits.

Public Housing Demolition (1990s–2000s)

The Plan for Transformation displaced tens of thousands of Black residents. Again, there were:

• No CBAs

• No local hiring guarantees

• No community investment

TIF‑Funded Development (1980s–present)

Billions in TIF dollars flowed to:

• Downtown

• North Side

• “Emerging neighborhoods”

Black communities received far fewer protections, despite being disproportionately affected by disinvestment.

3. Comparison: CBAs in Black Chicago vs. Other Communities

Below is a comparison of how CBAs have been used in Chicago and other cities.

City / Community	Strength of CBAs	Examples of Benefits Secured
Los Angeles (Black & Latino coalitions)	Strong	Local hiring, affordable housing, environmental protections, millions in community investment
New York (Harlem, Bronx)	Moderate–Strong	Job guarantees, youth programs, small business protections
Detroit (Citywide ordinance)	Very strong	Mandatory CBAs for large projects, enforceable penalties
Chicago – North Side (Lincoln Yards, Uptown)	Moderate	Some affordable housing, infrastructure, limited hiring commitments
Chicago – Latino communities (Pilsen, Little Village)	Moderate	Cultural protections, anti‑displacement measures, small business support
Chicago – Black communities (South & West Sides)	Weak or absent	Few legally binding CBAs; benefits often voluntary or symbolic

Pattern: Black neighborhoods in Chicago have historically received the fewest enforceable CBAs, despite experiencing the most displacement.

4. Why Segregated Chicago Produces Unequal CBAs

Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) Comparison Chart

How Black Chicago’s experience compares to other cities and other communities

National Comparison: How Other Cities Use CBAs

City	CBA Strength	Who Negotiated	What They Secured	Notes
Los Angeles	Strong	Black & Latino coalitions	Local hiring, affordable housing, environmental protections, millions in community investment	One of the first cities to use CBAs effectively
New York (Harlem, Bronx)	Moderate–Strong	Community coalitions + elected officials	Job guarantees, youth programs, cultural protections, small business support	Strong organizing base
Detroit	Very Strong	Citywide ordinance (legally required)	Mandatory CBAs for large projects, enforceable penalties, public reporting	Strongest CBA law in the nation
Atlanta	Moderate	Black community coalitions	Local hiring, minority contracting, community investment	Benefits tied to major developments
Chicago (citywide)	Weak / inconsistent	Negotiated case‑by‑case	Limited affordable housing, voluntary commitments, few enforceable terms	No citywide CBA ordinance

Chicago Comparison: How CBAs Differ by Community

Chicago Community	CBA Strength	Examples of Benefits Secured	Why Outcomes Differ
North Side (Lincoln Yards, Uptown)	Moderate	Some affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, limited hiring commitments	Higher political leverage, wealthier residents, stronger aldermanic pressure
Latino Communities (Pilsen, Little Village)	Moderate	Cultural protections, anti‑displacement measures, small business support	Strong organizing traditions, unified coalitions
Black Communities (South & West Sides)	Weak or absent	Few legally binding CBAs; benefits often voluntary or symbolic	Segregation, underinvestment, fragmented political power, rapid gentrification

Segregated Chicago: How Development Works Without CBAs

Area Type	Development Pattern	Community Benefits	Impact on Residents
White / Affluent Areas	Negotiated development with strong aldermanic oversight	Infrastructure upgrades, traffic mitigation, school investment, negotiated concessions	Residents gain benefits and protections
Gentrifying Latino Areas	High community organizing pressure	Cultural protections, anti‑displacement measures, small business support	Mixed outcomes but stronger protections
Segregated Black Areas	Development imposed on communities, not negotiated with them	Few or no CBAs; benefits voluntary, unenforced, or symbolic	Displacement, rising rents, loss of cultural anchors, limited job access

This comparison makes one reality unmistakably clear: Black communities in Chicago have historically received the fewest enforceable CBAs, despite experiencing the highest levels of displacement, underinvestment, and land loss. In a segregated city, development outcomes are not accidental — they reflect unequal political leverage, unequal organizing resources, and unequal access to legal protections. The result is a development system that delivers strong benefits in some neighborhoods, partial protections in others, and almost none in the Black communities that need them most.

Chicago is one of the most segregated cities in the United States. Segregation shapes who gets development, who gets benefits, and who gets displaced.

                                                      Here’s how                 

A. Segregation Concentrates Disinvestment in Black Neighborhoods

In segregated Chicago:

• Black neighborhoods receive fewer banks

• Fewer grocery stores

• Fewer commercial corridors

• Fewer major employers

• Less infrastructure investment

This reduces community leverage in negotiations with developers.

B. Segregation Creates Unequal Political Power

In segregated areas:

• Aldermen in wealthier, whiter wards often demand strong community protections

• Black aldermen face pressure to “accept any investment”

• Developers assume Black neighborhoods have less political resistance

This leads to weaker or nonexistent CBAs.

C. Segregation Allows Development Without Accountability

In segregated Chicago, development often happens to Black communities, not with them.

Examples:

• University of Chicago expansion into Woodlawn and Hyde Park

• Medical district expansion into Near West Side

• Public housing demolition across the South and West Sides

These projects moved forward without CBAs, because segregation insulated decision‑makers from community pressure.

D. Segregation Enables Resource Extraction

In many Black neighborhoods:

• Land is cheap

• Political resistance is fragmented

• Developers face fewer demands

This creates a take‑it‑or‑leave‑it dynamic, where communities are told:

“Be grateful for any investment.”

Meanwhile, in whiter or more affluent areas:

• Residents organize quickly

• Aldermen negotiate aggressively

• Developers offer concessions

• CBAs or CBA‑like agreements are more common

Segregation produces two different development systems in one city.

5. Case Study: The Obama Presidential Center (OPC)

The OPC is the first major development in Black Chicago to secure a CBA‑style agreement — the Woodlawn Housing Preservation Ordinance.

It includes:

• Affordable housing protections

• Anti‑displacement measures

• Tenant rights

But it is not a full CBA:

• No local hiring guarantees

• No direct community investment

• No binding commitments for Black‑owned businesses

It is progress — but not parity with other cities

Did South Shore Get a CBA From the Obama Center?

No. South Shore did not receive a CBA.

Only Woodlawn received a partial, housing‑focused ordinance — not a full CBA — after years of organizing by the Obama CBA Coalition.

South Shore, despite being closer to the Obama Presidential Center (OPC) and more vulnerable to displacement, received no CBA, no housing protections, and no binding commitments.

This is widely documented by community groups, housing advocates, and local reporting.

No citywide CBA ordinance

Unlike Detroit, Chicago has no law requiring CBAs for major developments.

⭐ 6. Summary Table: Who Got What?

Neighborhood	Full CBA?	Partial Protections?	What They Received
Woodlawn	❌ No	✔️ Yes (housing only)	Housing Preservation Ordinance (not a CBA)
South Shore	❌ No	❌ No	No protections at all
Hyde Park	❌ No	❌ No	No CBA, no housing protections
Washington Park	❌ No	❌ No	No CBA, no protections
Obama Foundation	—	—	No binding commitments to community

6. What Strong CBAs Could Deliver for Black Chicago

If implemented citywide, CBAs could guarantee:

Economic Benefits

• Local hiring

• Apprenticeships for Black youth

• Contracts for Black‑owned businesses

Housing Protections

• Affordable units

• Anti‑displacement measures

• Property tax protections

Community Investment

• Youth programs

• Nonprofit funding

• Community centers

• Cultural preservation

Accountability

• Public reporting

• Enforceable penalties

• Independent oversight

CBAs turn development into a shared benefit, not a one‑sided extraction.

7. What Chicago Needs to Ensure Equitable CBAs

A. A Citywide CBA Ordinance

Like Detroit, Chicago could require CBAs for:

• Large developments

• TIF‑funded projects

• University and hospital expansions

B. Community‑Led Negotiation Coalitions

Black neighborhoods need:

• Legal support

• Organizing infrastructure

• Long‑term funding

C. Transparent Development Processes

Communities need access to:

• Project details

• Hiring plans

• Budget data

• Impact assessments

D. Stronger Political Will

Elected officials must:

• Demand CBAs

• Refuse developer deals without them

• Support community coalitions

✊🏾 Black‑Led Coalitions Active in OPC‑Related Advocacy (South Shore Focus)

1. South Shore Works Coalition

Area: South Shore Role:

• Major neighborhood coalition organizing residents around development impacts

• Advocates for anti‑displacement protections, housing stabilization, and community benefits

• Hosts town halls and planning sessions related to the Obama Center

2. South Shore Housing Collaborative

Area: South Shore Role:

• Focused on affordable housing, tenant protections, and preventing displacement

• Works closely with residents most vulnerable to rising rents

• Engaged in policy advocacy tied to the OPC’s economic impact

3. Neighborhood Network Alliance (NNA)

Area: South Shore Role:

• Black‑led civic engagement network

• Organizes block clubs, resident councils, and community planning

• Active in OPC‑related community benefits conversations

4. Obama CBA Coalition (South Side–wide, includes South Shore groups)

Area: South Shore, Woodlawn, Washington Park, Hyde Park Role:

• Coalition of Black‑led organizations pushing for a legally binding Community Benefits Agreement

• Instrumental in winning the Woodlawn Housing Preservation Ordinance

• South Shore groups are active members pushing for similar protections

5. South Shore Chamber of Commerce

Area: South Shore Role:

• Black‑led business advocacy organization

• Focuses on protecting and growing Black‑owned businesses

• Engaged in OPC‑related economic development planning

6. Rebuild Foundation (Theaster Gates)

Area: Stony Island / South Shore border Role:

• Cultural preservation and Black creative economy development

• Advocates for equitable cultural investment around the OPC

• Runs the Stony Island Arts Bank and community arts programming

7. South Shore Community Organization (SSCO)

Area: South Shore Role:

• Long‑standing Black‑led grassroots group

• Works on housing stability, safety, and community planning

• Participates in OPC‑related neighborhood advocacy

Conclusion: CBAs Are a Pathway to Justice in a Segregated City

Community Benefits Agreements are not just contracts — they are tools of economic justice. They ensure that development in Black neighborhoods:

• Creates jobs

• Protects housing

• Supports youth

• Strengthens businesses

• Builds wealth

• Preserves culture

In segregated Chicago, where Black communities have historically received the fewest protections, CBAs are essential to ensuring that development does not displace residents — but strengthens them.