By Townhall Chicago News Staff
Cook County announced two real estate initiatives aimed at transforming underutilized county-owned land into new centers of innovation and affordable housing, according to an Oct. 16 news release from the county.
The two projects operate independently with separate scopes, timelines and procurement processes. Together, they reflect the county’s effort to leverage public property to address housing affordability and economic competitiveness.
The first initiative is a Request for Information for the Harrison Square Innovation Development. It seeks market-driven ideas for repurposing land in the Illinois Medical District surrounding the Cook County Health Stroger Hospital campus. The county is inviting developers, investors, healthcare and life sciences institutions, research organizations and other partners to propose concepts for the site.
No preferred development concept has been identified. The county is instead seeking recommendations on potential uses, scale, phasing, partnerships and financing structures, the release said. Responses to the RFI are due Thursday, Nov. 19, at noon.
The second initiative is a Request for Proposals to redevelop county-owned property at 2840-2844 W. Fullerton Ave. in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood into a mixed-use building with 100 percent affordable housing units.
The 0.21-acre site sits near major transit options and could support approximately 60 affordable residential units, depending on design and zoning approvals, according to the release. The RFP follows procurement processes guided by federal Department of Housing and Urban Development requirements and state and local regulations.
The county is seeking developers experienced in community engagement, sustainable design, environmental compliance and financing strategies such as Low Income Housing Tax Credits. Responses from Section 3 businesses and woman- and minority-owned firms are encouraged.
“This pair of independent efforts reflects Cook County’s broad commitment to leveraging public land responsibly in ways that expand economic opportunity, meet community housing needs, and strategically reposition assets across communities,” county officials said in the release.
The Harrison Square project could bring new life to an area of the Illinois Medical District that has long been identified as having development potential. The Stroger Hospital campus anchors a cluster of healthcare facilities on Chicago’s Near West Side.
The Logan Square affordable housing project addresses a neighborhood where rising rents and property values have driven displacement concerns for years. The site’s proximity to CTA Blue Line service makes it attractive for transit-oriented development.
For questions about the Harrison Square RFI, the county directs inquiries to BAMRFI@cookcountyil.gov. Questions about the Logan Square RFP can be sent to BAMRFP@cookcountyil.gov. Additional information and submission instructions are available through the county’s Open Calls portal.
Source: Cook County Pressroom
