From Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot’s press release:
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Chicago Fire Football Club, Alderman Jason Ervin (28th Ward), and Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) CEO Tracey Scott today announced the start of preliminary discussions on a proposed new performance and training facility for Chicago’s Major League Soccer (MLS) team in the Roosevelt Square area on the Near West Side.
"The Chicago Fire, which is one of our city's greatest sports teams, deserves to have a high-quality training facility that not only meets their needs but fosters the growth of talented athletes," said Mayor Lightfoot. "This potential new facility will not only fulfill this need, but also provide the surrounding West Side community with job, recreational and other incredible opportunities in the future. I look forward to discussing this exciting project further with the Fire, Alderman Ervin, and the CHA in the coming days."
The discussions will explore using approximately 30 acres of vacant CHA land as a headquarters and training center for the Fire. As part of a long-term lease agreement, the Fire would develop the multi-million-dollar facility and provide a variety of community benefits and public investments into neighboring public housing sites, long-term employment for community members, and recreational opportunities for youth. The proposed site is generally bounded by Roosevelt Road, Ashland Avenue, 14th Street and Loomis Street.
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“CHA sees this partnership with the Chicago Fire as an opportunity to invest in our families and in this community. By repurposing this unused land, we can secure substantial funds to rehabilitate CHA housing and develop new affordable housing while also creating employment opportunities for our residents and community members,” said CHA CEO Tracey Scott.
Tentative facility plans include world-class practice fields and a performance center where team members prepare for matches. The facility would also house the Fire’s Youth Academy, offering programmed activities for youth, teens, and young adults in CHA housing and the broader community. Additional facility details will be determined through the community engagement process and ongoing discussions between the Mayor’s Office, CHA, and City agencies.
The planning process will have an overall goal of creating an economic anchor that provides employment, recreational opportunities, and affordable housing resources for the community, including the rehabilitation and preservation of nearby CHA properties, resources for minority- and women-owned businesses, and community green space.