“Our goal is to foster the development of neighborhoods where commercial and affordable housing, jobs and open spaces contribute to continued growth and vitality,” Emanuel said.  “Facilitating investment in our communities is essential to the future economic health of our city.”

97th Street SSA, LLC
The first ordinance authorizes the negotiated sale of 2.65 acres of vacant City-owned land for the construction of a $4.8 million Social Security Administration building in the Pullman community. 

The developer, 97th Street SSA, LLC, is seeking to construct the 18,000-square-foot, single-story building at 9705 S. Cottage Grove Ave.  The developer intends to seek LEED certification for its design and use of environmentally-friendly features.

The proposed sale price is $465,000.  Proceeds from the sale would be used to offset the cost of environmental remediation at site.

The Social Security Administration would move about 35 employees to the location as part of a 10-year lease. If approved, the project would create up to 80 temporary constructions jobs. 

Class 6(b) Renewal for Total Sweeteners, Inc.
The next ordinance authorizes the renewal of a Class 6(b) tax incentive for Total Sweeteners, Inc., a Brighton Park distributor of food ingredients.

The tax incentive would allow Total Sweetners to keep continue operating with 55 full-time employees at 2234 W. 43rd St.

The original Class 6(b) incentive was issued in 2001 and supported a 60,000-square-foot expansion project. 

The Cook County Class 6(b) classification is designed to encourage industrial development by offering a reduced property tax assessment rate for 12 years for the development or revitalization of manufacturing or industrial facilities. The estimated tax savings would be approximately $2.1 million over the period.

Total Sweetners was established in 1979 and is a privately owned business, which operates as a subsidiary of Batory Foods, Inc.

Class 6(b) Tax Incentive for WMS Gaming, Inc.
Another proposed Class 6(b) incentive would support the construction of a 120,000-square-foot research and development facility in the Avondale community.

WMS Gaming, Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of video and reel-spinning machines, is expanding into a new four-story building at 2704 W. Roscoe St. to meet increasing customer demand for electronic game entertainment. 

The new $35 million LEED- certified facility is being designed to include game development studios, research and development laboratories, game demonstration rooms, an auditorium, office space and employee amenities including a fitness center and recreational lounges.

The property tax incentive would help the company to maintain 520 full-time jobs and to hire up to 25 additional full-time employees.

Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center 
Also introduced was a proposal to provide $4.8 million in TIF assistance to facilitate the relocation of a nursing school from the Village of Oak Park to the Humboldt Park community.

To be operated by Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, the school would relocate to five floors of St. Elizabeth Hospital at 1431 N. Claremont Ave. A $13.5 million renovation of the 11-story building would create new classrooms, a student lounge, conference rooms, offices and an operating room simulator.

The project would accommodate a growing demand for nurses and other allied health professionals trained at advanced levels.

The school has an enrollment of 275 students with 50 employees. The new location would double enrollment and add 27 jobs.

IGA with the CTA  
Also introduced was an ordinance to sell a nearly one-acre City-owned property in Greater Grand Crossing to the Chicago Transit Authority for the expansion of a Green Line maintenance yard. The property, at 315 E. 63rd St., would be sold for $1.