“The recommendations made by the CDC today continue to move economic development forward in Chicago,” said Department of Housing and Economic Development Commissioner Andrew Mooney.  “Bringing Resurrection University students and staff to the City from the suburbs is a prime example of successfully combining economic and workforce development, as is the expansion of Growing Home’s footprint in the City, increasing residents’ access to fresh food through a transitional jobs program.”

The CDC today recommended that City Council approve the renovation of 38,900 square feet of vacant space on five floors of the 11-story St. Elizabeth Medical Center, at 1431 North Claremont in Chicago’s West Town community.  The developer is seeking $4,738,139 in TIF assistance for the renovation.  This project will enable Resurrection University, with a College of Nursing and College of Allied Health, to move into vacant space at St. Elizabeth hospital.  The University is now located at West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, with an enrollment of 275 students, approximately half of whom are City of Chicago residents, and 50 employees. The university projects continuing strong demand for registered nurses due to a well-documented nursing shortage.  The school hopes to retain 80% of its graduates to meet its own workforce needs and plans to nearly double its enrollment and increase its staff.   The recommendation names Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center as the owner and developer of the project.

The Commission today also recommended the transfer of City land to NeighborSpace for $1, as the appropriate entity responsible for the development and preservation of a proposed community-managed garden site.  The site is located at 5831-45 S. Wolcott Avenue and 5830-40 S. Honore Street in West Englewood.   NeighborSpace is a sponsoring member of the Land Trust Alliance, a national network of private land conservation entities, which owns and insures the land while block clubs, businesses, and community organizations provide day-to-day management and maintenance.  Growing Home, the proposed garden manager, is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to serve homeless and low-income individuals through a transitional employment program in the organic farming business.  NeighborSpace would own the land with Growing Home managing the garden.  This proposed urban agriculture site is the second “urban farm” to provide training and employment for program participants and fresh organic produce for residents.  The first site is located at 5814 S. Wood Street. 

The CDC also recommended the sale of two parcels of city-owned land at 1001-11 W. 79th Street in the Auburn Gresham community to Robin Wright, owner of Lots of Love Community Center for the fair market value of $110,000.  This vacant land will be used for a new play lot and parking facility for the day care facility. The project will create ten construction jobs.