The former 12th District police station on the Near West Side will be converted into a children’s theater complex under a redevelopment plan approved today by City Council.

Chicago Children’s Theater will rehabilitate the two-story structure at 100 S. Racine Ave. as its permanent entertainment and training facility. The building, constructed in 1948 and vacated by the Chicago Police Department in 2012, will be reconfigured to include a 299-seat main stage theater, a 149-seat studio performance space, classrooms and administrative offices.

Valued at $2.3 million, the 16,920-square-foot building will be sold for $1.

Chicago Children’s Theater specializes in productions for young audiences, hosting more than 280,000 attendees since its founding in 2005. To date, it has partnered with another theater to stage performances.

The $15 million project will support 37 temporary and 158 permanent jobs. Costs will be partly paid for by a $5 million State of Illinois grant.

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