The Chicago Department of Planning & Development has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to develop city-owned land next to the Kedzie Green Line station.

“The RFQ represents a unique opportunity for a productive partnership between the City and a capable developer to advance the revitalization of surplus City land within East Garfield Park,” Commissioner Maurice D. Cox wrote in a letter introducing the RFQ. “The sites’ redevelopment with a dynamic mix of uses will create a more walkable and livable neighborhood that supports the entire West Side.

“DPD staff and community stakeholders appreciate your interest and we look forward to your response to create a stronger, more vibrant East Garfield Park.”

Kedzie station, above Lake Street, is located next to The Hatchery, a shared commercial kitchen and food business incubator where the Garfield Park Community Council hosts farmers markets.

The city is seeking to prequalify a limited number of developers and architects based on “financial capacity, relevant experience and demonstrated ability to complete a development of similar scale and scope”.

Three developer-designer teams will be invited to create an initial project proposal during a roughly six-week concept design and development phase. Each team will receive a $25,000 Design Innovation Grant from the Chicago Community Trust to cover design-related expenses during Step 3.

The selected developer-design team’s plan will be responsible for site planning, architectural design, securing entitlements, attracting anchor tenant(s), environmental remediation, and marketing properties to potential users. The selected Developer-Design Team will be expected to initiate vertical development in 2023 that meets the city’s objectives for the site:

• Create a well-integrated mixed-use development that enhances the vibrancy of the Garfield Park community.
• Implement Equitable Transit-Oriented development principles that enables all people regardless of income, race, ethnicity, age, gender, immigration status or ability to experience the benefits of dense, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented development near transit hubs.
• Expand retail, dining, and neighborhood amenities to promote the concept of a complete neighborhood.
• Promote design excellence to ensure development is consistent with the unique context of neighborhood, corridors, and blocks.

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