CHA Seeks Bids for Redevelopment of Former Harold Ickes Homes Land

Some big real estate news came through yesterday as the CHA is asking for bids to build on the now vacant land that used to house the infamous Harold Ickes Homes (from Crains):

The Chicago Housing Authority is looking for a developer to remake a big vacant site four blocks west of McCormick Place with new homes and shops. 

CHA is seeking pitches for an 11.3-acre property it owns between 22nd Street and Interstate 55, along the west side of State Street, according to a request for proposals the agency recently released. The site was once part of the Harold Ickes Homes, a 1,006-unit development CHA finished demolishing in 2010.

Further down in the article it confirms that the goal is for mix income housing:

Similar to ongoing redevelopments around the former Cabrini-Green housing project and other areas once dominated by CHA buildings, the agency wants the Ickes site redevelopment to include homes for a range of income levels, along with retail space.  

“The corner of (22nd Street) and State Street will serve to anchor the retail/commercial element of the proposal,” the RFP says. “Special emphasis should be placed on this corner as a transit hub, to maximize retail frontage for ground floor tenant and increased density with a maximum building height comparable to surrounding building structures.”

If you recall back in 2009 the housing project was demolished.  Since then this redevelopment was slow moving.  WBEZ had an article we linked to back in 2013.