(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The city of Chicago is moving forward with plans to turn a former Lincoln Avenue motel into a specialized homeless shelter.
The Diplomat Motel building at 5320 North Lincoln Avenue is one of the few remaining motor inns along that corridor. The city is acquiring the property to establish what Deputy Health Commissioner Matt Richards says will be a shelter for homeless people with medical, mental health or substance abuse problems.
He says the plan is based on what the health and housing departments did during COVID, with some success. Those helped are believed to have done much better than if they were at traditional shelters.
“We want to take those learnings and move them forward on the other side of COVID,” Richards said.
Special zoning approvals will be needed first, among other steps, to make the plan happen. It could take months, Richards said.
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