JB Pritzker Takes Housing Pitch To Real Estate Podcast

Gov. JB Pritzker took his pitch for a statewide zoning overhaul to a prominent Chicago real estate podcast, extending the governor’s high-profile alliance with the industry pushing his housing agenda in Springfield.

Pritzker sat down with Matt Laricy, a leading Chicago real estate broker who leads the Laricy Team at Americorp Real Estate, for an upcoming episode of his podcast, “Laricy Live.” The pair discussed Pritzker’s Building Up Illinois Developments, or Build plan, a package of six bills that would require municipalities to allow small multi-unit buildings on residential lots above a certain size and legalize accessory dwelling units statewide, among other proposals aimed at speeding up and cutting costs for development.

Pritzker has struck a major alliance with the real estate industry over his housing plan, which includes many policies that Illinois Realtors, the state’s real estate agent trade group, has lobbied for in Springfield for years. In April, he spoke at Illinois Realtors’ lobby day for the first time, calling real estate agents “indispensable partners” in the effort to increase housing supply.

A spokesperson for Pritzker said the trade group has been a key partner in advocating for his legislation.

“Every single day, realtors from across Illinois feel the impacts of the housing shortage on their motivated and qualified clients who simply can’t find a house they can afford,” the spokesperson said.

Laricy has teased clips of the podcast on social media, but the full show won’t be out until later this week, he said. In clips posted so far, Pritzker focused on the zoning overhaul, along with a down-payment assistance program his office started in March. He also dismissed concerns from local governments about sharp density increases as “misinformation.”

“What we’re trying to do is just add a few homes all across the state of Illinois,” Pritzker said. “Again, it’s not designed so that you’re gonna see all these massive buildings going up in places where they don’t belong.”

Pritzker has made the argument before against critics who see the policy as usurping the authority of city planners and mandating a “one-size-fits-all” policy across the state. The Illinois Municipal League, which represents the state’s local governments, has introduced a competing plan and opposed Pritzker’s proposals.

The podcast appearance came together through Illinois Realtors, Laricy said. After Pritzker spoke at the trade group’s Capitol Conference last month, the association connected the governor’s office with Laricy to tape the interview. Pritzker also filmed an interview with Tommy Choi, who leads the Weinberg Choi Residential team at Keller Williams OneChicago, his office said.

On the value of hosting the governor, Laricy said the appearance offered both business and editorial benefit.

“Being able to be associated with the most powerful politician in the state is never going to be a bad thing,” he said, adding that Build directly affects how his agents do their work and it’s important to stay informed on changing policies.

Laricy described the governor’s broader courtship of Illinois Realtors as straightforward politics. The trade group has significant muscle in Springfield, and aligning with it on a signature legislative agenda benefits both sides, Laricy said.

“It’s politics, right?” Laricy said. “You try to get people involved and friendly on both sides to try to make a difference.”

Pritzker also weighed in on the Chicago Bears’ stadium search in a posted clip, saying he wants the team to stay in Illinois. Indiana lawmakers in February advanced a proposal to commit $1 billion in public funding to build a stadium in Hammond to entice the team to cross the border. Illinois lawmakers in April passed a megaprojects bill meant to incentivize the team to build on a site it owns in Arlington Heights.

“I think they’ll be real embarrassed, and fans will abandon them if they think they’re going to move the Chicago Bears to Hammond, Indiana,” Pritzker said. Pritzker added he would not support using taxpayer money to fund the new stadium.

The Build plan bills remain pending in the Legislature. The bills received a public hearing in April and have yet to receive a committee vote.