The City’s Department of Fleet and Facility Management (2FM) will relocate its headquarters and 200 jobs from West Town to Englewood through a City-owned land sale approved today by City Council.

“This new facility will increase efficiency for the City and benefit taxpayers while driving economic development in the Englewood neighborhood,” said Mayor Emanuel. “By making smart investments like this one, we can double down on the progress we are making in a neighborhood like Englewood and generate economic benefits that reach every corner of Chicago.”

2FM’s current 18-acre headquarters complex at 1685 N. Throop St. in the North Branch Industrial Corridor will be sold to developer Sterling Bay LLC for $104.7 million. A portion of the proceeds will be used to construct a new, $37 million maintenance headquarters at 6800 S. Wentworth Ave. The new 200,000-square-foot replacement building will maintain and repair city vehicles such as fire engines, garbage trucks, and snowplows.

“Moving operations from the North and Throop facility will not only save the City significant operational costs, it will allow us to relocate to a new location that will be custom built to meet the needs of our operations,” said 2FM Commissioner David Reynolds.

The Chicago Infrastructure Trust (CIT) is managing the design and development of the new maintenance headquarters.

“The CIT is pleased to be partnering with the City of Chicago on this important project,” said CIT Executive Director Leslie Darling. “This project is a unique opportunity to select a development team to finance the project in addition to doing the design and construction.”

As part of the proposal, the City will also sell five acres of vacant land at 6705 S. Wentworth to Sterling Bay for $1.3 million for redevelopment into future retail and commercial uses.

"Moving 2FM's headquarters to Englewood underscores the Mayor's commitment to the South Side," said Alderman Roderick Sawyer. "This new facility will create construction jobs and the relocation of hundreds of full time workers to this community will help attract even more businesses to the neighborhood."

The City purchased the Throop Street property in 1990 after leasing it for two years. The property was previously owned by Proctor & Gamble. The location is anticipated to be redeveloped with a mix of uses that align with the City’s recently adopted North Branch Framework plan. Proceeds from its sale will also support the development of a new public safety training facility in West Garfield Park.

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