Top officials of the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) fled a public meeting Wednesday, after being noticed sitting quietly in the back of the room.

At least 300 people packed the small third-floor gym of Alcott College Preparatory High School on the evening of February 3, 2016 to hear a proposal for redeveloping Lathrop Homes on the North Side.

Lathrop, a CHA-owned public housing complex at Diversey and Clybourn Avenues, is slated to host a combination of public housing, "affordable" apartments, and market-rate apartments—for a total of 1,116 units.

In a 40-minute presentation, First Ward Ald. Proco "Joe" Moreno and representatives of several developers described the Lathrop plan. It would raze 12 of the riverfront complex's existing buildings, and cut the number of public housing units from 925 to 400.

The loss of public housing irked many in attendance, some of whom repeatedly asked Moreno how, where, and when the city would replace the units.

Moreno responded at one point by calling the remaining 400 units a success. "The real fight," he said, "would be in not getting any."

The alderman also said that the CHA, not him, should commit as to how to replace the units—a commitment he pledged to get from the CHA in writing.

About two-thirds of the way through a question-and-answer period, housing advocate Leah Levinger called out CHA executive director Eugene Jones, Jr. and CHA board president John Hooker. Jones and Hooker had been sitting quietly among audience members in the back of the room.

"We have the CHA leadership present," Levinger said. "Perhaps they'd tell us whether they'll commit to replacing the public housing units."

With audience members buzzing and gaping, Jones and Hooker began to huddle. After a few moments, Moreno said from the stage, "I can't force them to speak."

Jones and Hooker left their seats and walked out the rear exit, trailed by aides.

Following Jones down the stairs to the street, a reporter asked why neither he nor Hooker would respond to the concerns voiced in the meeting.

"No comment," Jones said.

Pressed further, Jones said, "We came to here to listen. I'm gonna move the plan forward, that's my comment." Jones did not say to what plan he referred.

Moreno reported that the Chicago Plan Commission would consider the Lathrop redevelopment plan on February 18. He said, however, that he'd pull the plan from commission's agenda if the CHA doesn't commit in writing to replace the lost public housing units.