The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) would have the authority to purchase a former grocery building in West Garfield Park to foster its reuse for food sales through a proposal submitted to City Council today by Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot.

DPD would purchase the property if the current owner’s efforts to sell the building do not result in its re-use as a grocery store. In that event, DPD could intervene through its authority to purchase and control the site for a grocery store or related use that serves community needs.

Located at 3811-41 W. Madison St., the 15,050-square-foot building was constructed by Aldi Grocery Stores in the early 1990s and includes an adjacent, 63-space parking lot. Aldi abruptly closed the store in October 2021 and is marketing it for sale for $700,000.

The store's closure eliminated a convenient source of food for approximately 15,000 residents while also creating a void within the Madison Street commercial corridor.

DPD's potential efforts to locate a new grocery could be solicited through a community-driven Request for Proposals (RFP) process or related effort. Acquisition funding would be provided through the Madison/Austin Tax Increment Financing district.