A Costco planned for the Near West Side at 14th Street and Ashland Avenue is getting ready to break ground this month, according to Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd).

The project has had a tumultuous ride to get to this point, Fioretti said. Lease negotiations between Costco and the Illinois Medical District (a state-controlled body that owns the Costco site) were rocky, but a deal was reached earlier this year.

“When negotiations began in earnest, the medical district wanted to make 982 changes to the lease — and I called the governor to intervene on it,” Fioretti said. “The governor’s office was very eager to assist. They understood what it meant to have almost 250 permanent jobs.”

The contract’s been signed at this point, Fioretti said, and Costco should be able to work by their original timeline — with the intent of opening the new store by July of next year.

“Costco works on a tight timeline,” Fioretti said. "They’re under a tight time frame, and they want this building to open.”

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By WestLooper from WestLoop
Posted: 08/11/2011 9:18 AM

Grace I think it's the difference between locations with commercial promise and more of a situation where the City needs to drag along a company to satisfy a need that commercial interests find less compelling.

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By Grace from West Haven
Posted: 08/09/2011 7:50 AM

Fpr the record Claudea, I did attend the meeting at the church - and still not satisfied by the slow process that Pete\'s / City is taking to develop this land. The point of my comment is to bring attention to how quickly the Trader Joe; Target; and Costco are developing while WE *need* the store and it feels like they are dragging their feet. Pete\'s was announced in 2009 to be opened that Fall, or Spring of 2010....now Spring 2012. While these other neighborhoods are getting a faster turnaround.

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By Matt Wos from dearborn park
Posted: 08/05/2011 10:54 AM

maybe if the alderman got air conditioning at his new office more people would come? all the e-mails I receive from his office point out there is no a/c. While I'm grateful for that warning, I can't help but wonder: Fioretti couldn't afford an office with a comfortable environment? Or...perhaps they dont want too many visitors.

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By claudea from united center
Posted: 08/05/2011 8:28 AM

If you guys had gone to the Alderman's town hall meeting at the Pheonix/Marine School, you would have found out about the status of Pete's.

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By Jen M. from Near West Side
Posted: 08/04/2011 7:47 AM

Agreed, Grace! I need regular groceries that don't require me to drive to the South Loop to get. Why is no one talking about the Pete's? It will do so much good for this neighborhood.

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By Grace from West Haven
Posted: 08/04/2011 7:35 AM

When does Pete's breakground?? That was discussed before Trader Joes; Target; and Costco and we still havent seen any movement!! While these 3 stores are targeted first....outcry!