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Rush Medical Center invites community to Tour the Tower
11/30/2011 7:37 PM
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A rendering of the hospital
About four or five years ago, community meetings were held to discuss extending the Central West TIF district which includes the West Loop. I attended the meeting held in the Union Park field house where the map shown to audience members displayed an unmarked blob jutting out from the original TIF area. City planners begrudgingly admitted after a long line of questioning that the blob’s geography was defined specifically to encompass Rush University Medical Center, and only the Center. Eventually, the extension of the TIF passed the Chicago City Council, and the city went on to award Rush $75 million in TIF for their $900 million project.
Now, communities surrounding the new hospital at Rush have been invited to preview the Tower in December before it officially opens in January 2012. Hour-long guided Sneak Peek Tower Tours will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Medical Center at 1620 W. Harrison St. on Saturday, December 10th.
In addition to the tours there will be free door prizes and a Teddy Bear clinic for children hosted by the emergency department.
Complimentary three-hour parking will be provided for registered attendees in the Rush garage, but note that valet services will not be available for the event.
Registration is required for the tour. Information requested when I called included my birth date and address as it reads on my state-issued identification card. That seemed a bit much, but I provided it. You can register by calling (888) 352-RUSH (7874). I’ll be taking the 9:40 a.m. tour. I encourage you to take the tour too. No, not for the teddy bear, but to see how your TIF dollars have been put to use.