A land transfer approved today by City Council will support the development of a $5.6 million athletic field on the Near South Side for use by Jones College Preparatory High School and area residents.

Under the proposal, the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) will provide approximately 3.5 acres of land near 24th and Federal streets to Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for the development of the field and running track. The site was previously occupied by the CHA’s recently demolished Harold Ickes Homes.

In exchange for the Ickes land, CHA will receive 9.8 acres of City-and CPS-owned land surrounding the former Near North High School at 1450 N. Larabee St., which the CHA will use for the ongoing, mixed-income redevelopment of the Cabrini Green public housing complex.

Jones, occupying a half city block at 606 S. State St., has no outdoor athletic facility. Construction of the field will be supported by $4.3 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) approved by City Council in March 2013. The $1.3 million balance will be paid for by CPS.

Design and construction of the field will be managed by the Public Building Commission.

The remainder of the 7.5-acre Ickes site is being planned for a mix of public, affordable and market rate housing.

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