Malcolm X college to get new building

Mayor Emanuel, City Colleges Chancellor Cheryl Hyman planning to replace parking lot with $251 million new campus

02/21/2012 12:30 PM

By Ben Meyerson
Editor

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Mayor Rahm Emanuel, City Colleges Chancellor Cheryl Hyman and City Colleges board chair Paula Wolff announced Malcolm X College's new building Thursday morning.
Photos by BEN MEYERSON/Staff



The new campus will replace this parking lot, seen here looking across Jackson Boulevard from a second floor window in Malcolm X's current building.

The Near West Side’s Malcolm X College is getting a new building to go along with its health care-focused curriculum makeover, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Tuesday morning with the head of Chicago’s City Colleges.

The new building will replace the college’s parking lot, which is also used for events at the United Center.

It’s part of a $479 million system-wide rehab of the City Colleges system, which will also rehab classrooms, improve security and take care of long-deferred maintenance at other buildings in the City Colleges system.

But Malcolm X will be the only college in the system to get a completely new building, under the plan from Emanuel and City Colleges Chancellor Cheryl Hyman.

Emanuel said the upgrades are an important part of making sure the City Colleges’ new focus — getting its students ready for specific careers — is a success.

“People are looking for jobs, employees are looking for skilled workers, and the only thing that can link them is the education system,” Emanuel said Tuesday. “For too long, the City Colleges have stood on the sidelines.”

Construction on the building is set to begin in the summer or fall of 2013, with construction of the new building’s 1,500-spot parking garage. The building is slated to be finished by spring of 2015.

Despite taking away one of the surface parking lots used for United Center events, the mayor’s office said they don’t expect the new building’s construction to disrupt the neighborhood, with more than 800 official parking spots available and more options nearby, as well as public transportation.

It’s not clear yet what will happen to Malcolm X’s old building. Emanuel declined to comment on plans for the old building, which was built in 1971.

Emanuel said the building will be paid for mostly with bonds issued by the City Colleges, cash saved from recent financial reforms in the system and $8 million in TIF money.


2 Comments - Add Your Comment



By Southloopeducator from South Loop
Posted: 02/25/2012 1:58 PM

Yes Lydia--good news to the developers and cronies of Mayor Emmanuel who has already sold this city out for so many pieces of silver. This is not about kids, but just another way for the friends and cronies to be taken care of with no bid contracts. And that way Rahm will get more pieces of silver for his war chest. I hope you don't believe the lying Mayor who has been caught in lie after lie already.


By Lydia from United Center Park
Posted: 02/23/2012 9:29 AM

This is great news! A student center, bookstore, coffee shop, bakery, restaurant, etc would all be a welcome site at the old building. This would be attract students, or crowds for UC events. PLEASE bring RETAIL whatever you do to benefit the area. This area is getting new attention in the media, so developers get in now!!!!!!! PLEASE