CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Plans have advanced for an $80 million training facility for the Chicago Fire soccer team, despite some West Side community concerns.
The Chicago Plan Commission has approved plans to build a new Chicago Fire training facility on the site of the old Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) ABLA homes. But West Side Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) echoed community concerns about displaced public housing residents getting back into that neighborhood.
“As long as we don’t lose any housing,” Burnett said. “I don’t want no one taking land from the people. The unfortunate thing [is] these things have been promised to the people over 20 years ago.”
Ann McKenzie, of the CHA, said that has been a major consideration and added that this plan includes hundreds of affordable units.
“This should not slow down the housing,” McKenzie said. “We actually anticipate that this is such a nice match to housing because it’s recreation, that we are hoping it speeds it up.”
During public comment before the plan commission, Dr. Dennis Garrett was among those who said they'd hoped to turn the old ABLA Homes site into housing and a health care facility. Garrett was upset that the Chicago Fire wants to turn part of the sprawling property into a training facility and soccer field.
But Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) said community people and the CHA have worked to ensure the promised housing will be there, as well as jobs and benefits for the West Side.
With the plan commission’s approval, the project will go in front of Chicago’s Zoning Committee on Tuesday. It could see a full Chicago City Council vote on Wednesday.
Related
Related
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!