Harvey City Council approves solar farm feasibility study

The Harvey City Council approved a feasibility study for a solar farm on April 27. It was introduced in March. The initiative is part of Illinois Solar for All, a state program that offers income-eligible residents affordable solar installations or community solar subscriptions to save money on electricity bills.

During the discussion period prior to the vote, Ald. Colby Chapman (2nd) wanted to confirm that any negotiations regarding contract proposals and lease negotiations would not occur until after the study’s completion and that there would be council approval at each phase of the project. 
Mayor Shirley Drewenski said, “I can guarantee that is exactly what is going to happen.” She was also clear to mention that the study and any future work would come at no cost to taxpayers.

Demolishing “the Village”

Drewenski mentioned that the city would be applying for a grant to demolish “the Village” to market the commercial space to businesses. The cluster of abandoned rowhouses along 154th St. and Dixie Hwy. off of Oakley St. are largely now abandoned with the exception of two families. They will be offered compensation to relocate, according to acting mayor Shirley Drewenski.

Treasurer’s report

The treasurer’s report gave attendees an update on the city’s finances since February 26, 2026. “The starting balance was $2,720,888.29, with an ending balance of $3,540,564.33,” said City Treasurer Aisha Pickett. The balance total is across three different accounts: the city’s regular account, the transit-oriented development tax increment financing district downtown Harvey, and donation special events. Pickett said she just recently gained access to the last two accounts.

Harvey Neighborhood Network

The Harvey Neighborhood Network presented its 30-week beautification program. The program includes community clean-ups, tree and nature garden planting, and other community enhancement activities. It is a place-based initiative funded by United Way and Cook County. Programming started in February and continues until September 12, 2026.

Public comment

During public comment, Harris Kouklakis, legal counsel for the J&T Group said they are not following through on an agreement that was approved a year-and-a-half ago. The J&T Group is a residential development firm that works primarily in suburban Cook County. 

During a special City Council meeting in December 2024, Harvey approved a redevelopment agreement where the company would purchase city-owned properties to rehabilitate properties, demolish abandoned homes, and build new single-family housing.

Five months later, the council voted to exchange four of the five agreed upon properties, while adding two, will be deeded to J&T Group for renovation. Kouklakis said that the resolution’s goal was to, “get the tax bill back to the city.” Renovated homes are intended to be purchased for owner occupants — to boost homeownership in Harvey — as opposed to the owner renting them out. According to Kouklakis, most properties had 10 years or more of delinquency across taxes, fines, and violations owed to the city.

J&T’s attorney said that they have a $2 million line of credit that is at risk of expiring should property deeds not be remitted to the company so that the homes can be rehabbed. Since the agreement has been in place, the J&T Group has renovated one home, and sold it to a veteran, Kouklakis said.

Courtney Odom and Somaya Brown, two students from Thornton Township High School, shared concerns about young safety. “I feel like everybody should make Harvey a safe community for the kids and the youth, because we should not have grown men who are currently homeless coming up to us kids asking us for stuff”, Odom said.” Their comments included fixing abandoned buildings that are used to sell drugs to youth.