State-of-the-Art New Facility Will be Funded by Sale of City-Owned Land at North and Throop; Move Will Increase Department Efficiency and Spur Economic Development in Englewood
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced the City is taking the next step towards building a new headquarters for the Chicago Department of Fleet and Facility Management (2FM) in the Englewood neighborhood. Today the Chicago Infrastructure Trust (CIT), in coordination with 2FM, released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new facility on the former site of Kennedy King College to replace operations currently being performed at 1685 North Throop Street and serve as home to 225 department employees. The City plans to fund the development of the new facility with proceeds from the sale of the current department headquarters on Throop Street.
“This new facility will increase efficiency for the City and benefit taxpayers while driving economic development in the Englewood neighborhood,” Mayor Emanuel said. “By making smart investments like this we can double down on the progress we are making in one neighborhood and generate economic benefits that reach every corner of Chicago.”
The new facility will be located on vacant property at 6800 South Wentworth Avenue that was formerly the location of Kennedy King College. The replacement facility at this location will be a 200,000-square-foot building to be used for the repair and maintenance of City equipment, such as fire apparatus and snow plow trucks. The facility will also include administrative offices for 2FM, a carpenter shop, a sheet metal shop, a blacksmith shop and a paint shop.
In addition to the replacement facility at 6800 S. Wentworth Avenue, the RFP also includes a replacement satellite shop on the city’s north side and a replacement fuel site on Goose Island.
The RFP includes participation goals for both minority and woman-owned businesses. The participation goal for minority-owned businesses is 28 percent, and the participation goal for woman-owned businesses is 8 percent, exceeding the City’s standard goals. The RFP also includes a requirement that 15 percent of the total construction hours worked be by residents within the communities surrounding the project, twice the City’s standard requirement of 7.5 percent.
“This relocated facility will save significant operational costs while providing a custom and state-of-the-art location that meets the specific needs of our operations,” 2FM Commissioner David Reynolds said. “It will also generate an economic benefit to Englewood for generations to come.”
The CIT is managing the process to select a development team that will design, build and finance the replacement facilities.
“The CIT is pleased to be partnering with the City of Chicago on this important project,” CIT Executive Director Leslie Darling said. “This project is a unique opportunity to select a development team to finance the project in addition to doing the design and construction.”
“This new facility provides an opportunity for the CIT, in partnership with the City of Chicago, to drive economic development in the Englewood community,” CIT Board Chair Kurt Summers said. “And with RFP participation goals focused on minority- and women-owned businesses, we are ensuring that every aspect of this project is as inclusive and impactful as possible.”
Responses to the RFP are due by July 5, 2017. Contingent on approval by City Council, the CIT and the City anticipate beginning construction of the replacement facilities in early 2018 and reaching substantial completion in late 2018.
The RFP can be viewed at the CIT’s website: chicagoinfrastructure.org. The RFP is also available to potential buyers who may wish to include development of the replacement facilities as part of their offer to purchase 1685 North Throop and 6801 South Wentworth in response to the Department of Planning and Development’s Call for Offers issued May 24, 2017.