On Tuesday, Harvey officials and developers grabbed shovels for a ceremonial groundbreaking on the Turlington Homes redevelopment along the 15100 block of Turlington Avenue, a stretch lined with long-vacant city lots. The photo-op marked a visible move toward new single-family houses in a south suburb juggling a fiscal crisis and a sudden change at the top of City Hall. City Hall sells it as a neighborhood reset Acting Mayor Shirley Drewenski and project supporters cast the plan as a stabilizing force for the neighborhood. Drewenski said the new houses “will strengthen our community, support growth and help move the city forward.” The celebration came with a catch. The event was mostly symbolic, with permits and other approvals still pending, according to the Chicago Tribune . Deal approved under late Mayor Clark The redevelopment agreement cleared the City Council last year under Mayor Christopher Clark, before his unexpected death on Jan. 30. ABC7 Chicago reported Clark’s death, while a Feb. 23 council vote installing Drewenski as acting mayor was covered by FOX 32 Chicago . The deal, which would transfer 10 city-owned lots for redevelopment, arrived as Harvey’s finances drew tougher scrutiny. It also drew complaints that residents were cut out of the process, according to Harvey World Herald . Developer touts energy-efficient starter homes The company behind Turlington Homes says it plans three model designs with energy-efficient finishes and optional solar packages pitched to first-time buyers and small families. The project aims to repurpose more than a dozen vacant parcels on the 15100 block, offering modern layouts and warranty programs to buyers, according to the developer’s materials. Turlington Homes markets the build-out as a community-minded redevelopment that swaps empty, weedy lots for new roofs and fresh tax bills. Neighbors cry foul on ‘rushed’ process Not everyone on Turlington Avenue is sold. Some longtime residents say City Hall moved too fast on the sale and the subsequent ceremonies. “It just feels like we’re doing a fire sale to some legal friends downtown,” resident Amanda Askew said, criticizing how quickly the lots were approved for transfer. Harvey World Herald documented neighborhood pushback at council meetings, including residents who said they wanted more public hearings before the city gave up the land. Permits, timeline and starting prices Developers say they still need permits before any real construction can begin, but have told reporters they expect work to start in March 2026. Under the redevelopment agreement, the build-out is projected to wrap up in the final quarter of 2027, with the city allowed to help the project along by selling the lots at a discounted price. Chicago Tribune noted a site sign advertising starting home prices at about $180,000 and reported that the development would pick up 10 unused city-owned properties on the 15100 block of Turlington Avenue. High stakes in a city under financial strain Residents, opposing aldermen, and civic watchdogs are expected to keep close tabs on how permits are handled, what the final price points look like, and whether the city squeezes enough long-term value out of the land. Coverage last year noted that Harvey declared a state of financial distress in October 2025, setting the backdrop for every new public-private deal that follows. Local leaders say future partnerships will be judged against that reality, according to reporting by CBS Chicago . For now, residents are left weighing whether a row of new houses on Turlington Avenue is the start of a turnaround or just the city’s most visible bet in a very tight financial game.
Harvey officials came out in frigid weather Feb. 24 for a symbolic groundbreaking on Turlington Homes, a redevelopment project approved last year under the late Mayor Christopher Clark. The Turlington Homes project is one of the only initiatives Harvey has undertaken since declaring a state of financial distress in October. The Turlington Homes project was approved at the first City Council meeting after that declaration, where it was the only item of new business. Acting Mayor Shirley Drewenski was elected by the City Council Feb. 23 to serve out the remainder of Clark’s term. “These homes will strengthen our community, support growth and help move the city forward,” Drewenski said at the ground-breaking. Speakers commemorated the late mayor, praising his drive and vision. John Groff, vice president of Global Real Estate Development, the project’s developer, called Clark’s vision for Harvey outstanding. “When we got the call about Harvey, we looked up Harvey, we said, it’s a small little borough, let’s go out there and let’s see what they have to say,” Groff said. “Meeting the former mayor, Mayor Clark, was an inspiration, because even though you didn’t want to hear what he had to say, he told you.” However, some residents opposed the project, criticizing its suddenness and lack of public input. There was no debate on the proposed development agreement when it was approved, as 3rd Ward Ald. Telanee Smith called the question, bringing the issue to an immediate vote. At that meeting, resident Amanda Askew accused the city of hastily selling off assets while in financial distress. “It just feels like we’re doing a fire sale to some legal friends downtown,” Askew said. “We just continue to act like this is a liquidation sale for the city of Harvey.” Another resident, Mauzkie Ervin, argued that because the city appealed for state financial aid, transactions involving city assets like the Turlington Homes agreement should be subject to state approval. While Harvey has applied for a state takeover of its troubled finances under the Illinois Financially Distressed City Law, the state has yet to take any action.
