The Chicago Community Development Commission (CDC) today recommended that the City Council grant the City’s Department of Community Development (CDC) approval to enter into negotiated sales with the Chicago Housing Authority for property at 1360 S. Blue Island Ave.and with RK Development Properties, LLC for property located at 5147 and 5151 S. Ashland Ave.

“Both of these projects will bring land in our communities back into productive use,” said Acting Department of Community Development Commissioner Chris Raguso. “The land sale to the CHA lays the groundwork for a new police station and paves the way for a mixed income residential development and the sale of vacant land in New City will bring about a new community health clinic to benefit all residents. We are proud to be part of both of these projects.”

New Near West Side Police Station

The CDC today recommended that the Chicago City Council approve the sale of 1360 S. Blue Island Ave. to the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) for $1. The appraised market value of the land is $677,680. In exchange for the City-owned parcel, the CHA will convey a four-acre parcel of land to the City for the construction of a new 12th District police station. The two-story, 44,000 sq. ft. police facility will be bounded by 14th Street (north), Blue Island Avenue (east), 14th Place (south) and Throop Street (west). The new facility will be five times the size of the present facility and will include such environmental-friendly features as Gold LEED certification and a 50% green roof. Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2010 and the new facility will be open by February 2012.  The CHA plans to lease the land to Related Midwest to construct a 30-unit mixed-income housing development as part of the ongoing redevelopment at the Roosevelt Square CHA Plan for Transformation site, formerly ABLA Homes.

New Community Health Network Clinic Planned for New City Community

The CDC today also recommended that the City Council approve the sale of City-owned vacant land at 5147 and 5151 S. Ashland Ave. to RK Development Properties LLC, for the construction of a new 10,180 square foot, two-story family health center. The sale price is $60,000; the appraised market value is $116,000. The land has been vacant since 2003. The proposed development of the Access Community Health Network health center will replace an existing smaller Access clinic at 5256 S. Ashland Ave. and will allow Access to expand its facility and provide additional services to the community. It is anticipated the facility will open by the end of 2010.