The City of Chicago has released the financial details of the upcoming GLBT Community Center project, announcing that Horizons Community Services is set to pay $2.75 million for the former park district facility at 3630 N. Halsted.
The city will buy the land from the park district for its assessed value of $5 million and sell it to Horizons at a $2.25 million discount. "We do that all across the city with other entities and other properties we might get," said Pete Scales, spokesman for the Chicago Department of Planning and Development.
Mayor Daley introduced a proposal for the project to the City Council on March 28, and it is currently before the Council's Housing and Real Estate committee.
"With this project, Horizons will be able to expand their facilities and programs to better serve Chicago's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities," Daley said in a release.
" ( The mayor has ) been a staunch supporter of the gay and lesbian community for a long time," Scales said. "This is just another one of the pieces of the puzzle ... . The area seems to be the focus of gay and lesbian life in Chicago."
Under the plan, all but the facade of the existing building would be demolished, and a new structure would be built. That structure would include meeting rooms and office space for community organizations, conference space, a technology training center, 18,000 square feet of retail space, a 13,400-square-foot theater and a 16,500-square-foot gymnasium, the city said. An estimated 40-50 jobs would be created.
Horizons would serve as the steward of the project, and its officials are being cautiously quiet about the plan. "It's very important for us to keep a low-key approach between now and the next council meeting," said Horizons board member Patrick Sheahan.
The proposal will likely go before the full council in May.