A former fire station in Grand Boulevard will be sold and converted into a food business incubator through a plan approved today by City Council.

Sparks Shared Kitchen LLC will purchase and renovate the vacant, two-story structure at 4005 S. Dearborn St. as a shared commercial kitchen that provides mentoring services to start-up food businesses. The first floor of the 2,600 square-foot building will be rehabilitated as a main cooking and production room. The second floor will house additional production spaces, a dining and presentation room, walk-in freezer, and offices. Total project cost is estimated at $725,000.

Built in the 1930s by the Chicago Fire Department for Engine Co. 16, the masonry building closed in 2012 after a new, larger fire station was constructed nearby. Appraised at $60,000, the property will be sold for $15,000.

The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the structure earlier this year. Six proposals were received, primarily for residential and commercial uses.

Sparks’ current Grand Boulevard facility provides production and support space for 60 full-and part-time employees affiliated with mostly minority and women-owned businesses. The new location will increase capacity for another 40 full-and part-time workers.

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