CTA Red Line Extension, West Garfield Park Wellness Center
Good afternoon! Today I’ll be covering the CCLBA Land Transactions Committee meeting for @CHIdocumenters #chidocumenters
04:22 PM Sep 14, 2022 CDT
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:00PM CST. You can read the agenda here: https://t.co/qc3FBInXS6
The Cook County Land Bank Authority acquires holds and transfers real estate properties throughout Cook County to promote redevelopment and reuse of vacant, foreclosed or tax delinquent properties.
The meeting is called to order by Joy Arguete, the acting chair, at 1:09pm. Roll call commences.
Eleanor Gorski, executive director at CCLBA, introduces the CTA Land Banking Agreement project - the CTA intends on entering a 5 year agreement term with the CCLBA for the Red Line extension project, mostly for Right of Way and Park Replacement (mitigation)
Leah Mooney, Director of Strategic Planning & Policy, CTA presents on the Red Line Extension (RLE) project, which can be seen below. The plan includes 5.6 miles of heavy rail extension, mostly elevated, and extends the red line from 95th St to Altgeld Gardens at 130th St https://t.co/l9kmkL0Y6i
Sweeney says the RLE is an equity project serving the far south side population which has higher rates of poverty & unemployment.The RLE is a $3.6 billion investment, which will bring ppl closer to opportunities, support ~ 30,000 jobs, including 6200 direct project jobs
The timeline for the project is shown below. CCLBA will largely be a part of the engineering phase, focusing on parcels for right of way and replacement. There are 93 PINS total and the properties are generally vacant, no relocations. They’ll restore parkways and green space https://t.co/TT5Ts3okhF
Sweeney ends by saying this project has been asked for by the community for years and the project has goals of economic development and supporting residents
Joy Arguete thinks the project is long overdue and believes the project is a good partnership, people have always wondered why the red line doesn’t go to the city limits and this plan addresses that
The motion carries to enter a land banking agreement with the CTA and passes with a roll call vote
Gorski introduces a project/concept with The Community Builders to construct Sankofa Village Wellness Center in West Garfield Park. Kemena Brooks from The Community Builders presents on the plan to enter into a tri-party land banking agreement with the City of Chicago & CCLBA
Brooks says the West Garfield Park Wellness Center aka Sankofa Village Wellness Ctr at 4313-15 W. Madison Ave, signifies a catalytic investment in West Garfield Park & will improve resident health + wellness. A rendering of the building is to the left & site map to the right https://t.co/VpQkYHYa6c
The West Garfield Park Wellness Ctr will deliver inter-generational services under one roof including family health and dental care, mental health services, financial literacy programs, childcare services and arts programming
The wellness center will combine three city owned parcels, two scavenger sales, two privately owned lots & a lot from New Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church, a planned partner. The land acquisition map is below along with planned tenants including Rush, Erie, YMCA & West Side United https://t.co/tPnbE57uUl
Brooks says the plan for the wellness ctr came as a solution to help close the life expectancy gap between West Garfield Park and the Loop (which is now a 13 year difference). The Community Builders & organizers went door knocking with surveys, held town halls and focus groups
The total cost is $42 million, a breakdown of costs is shown below. The Community Builders have experience with new market tax credits; Rush & Erie will pay upfront at the onset of the project. A timeline can be seen to the right, construction plans to start at the end of 2023 https://t.co/vTK7WHhH21
Joy Arguete motions the recommendation to CCLBA Board for approval to enter into a tri-party land banking agreement. After a roll call vote, the motion carries
Up next is the recommendation to CCLBA Board for approval to enter into a purchase sale agreement with Jorge López for the property at 2955 W Soffel Ave, Melrose Park, IL, $280,000
The property which can be seen below has a lot size of 21,344 sq ft, and the building is 7300 sq ft. It’s an industrial property and the acquisition is in cash https://t.co/VI6KfCdTVh
López currently owns two rubber parts manufacturing companies - Silicone Rubber Rights Products (3 miles from proposed purchase) and Team Products LLC (120 miles from Silicone). The new property would be used to relocate Team Products bringing the companies closer
The closer vicinity of the companies would allow a larger labor pool & growth of Team Products, better management of both facilities and additional space and labor for shortages at Silicone Rubber Right Products, which is now at full capacity
Arguete motions to approve the sale agreement and the motion carries with a roll call vote.
The approval of July 15, 2022 CCLBA Land Transactions Committee meeting and the approval of the July and August Transactions Report both pass with a roll call vote and will be published online.