On Friday, March 14th, 2015, CPS announced its intention to sell several buildings that were shut down in 2013, including the 3 story, 100 year old located at 2620 W. Hirsch. In response, Ald. Joe “Proco” Moreno announced his intention to fully support the refurbishing of these buildings for housing and education to use including the creation of a teachers lounge and a possible middle lab school.
In the article, the reporters note the following about the entire effort: what is equally intriguing about Moreno’s plan is the proposal to create housing for current and retired teachers. Like the LGBTQ senior affordable housing on the site of the Old Town Hall Police District at 3600 N. Halsted, the project would market to teachers so it wouldn’t violate fair-housing laws. It would also be not-for-profit despite interest fom private developers, he said.
Puerto Rican Cultural Center director José E. López said his organization was pulling together a bid with the Illinois Facilities Fund to create a “Community as a Campus.”
There would be space for parent and teacher training, and some housing that teachers could afford as the gentrifying neighborhoods rent rise, López said, describing it as “a little educational hub” where the 11 elementary schools feeding into Roberto Clemente High School could interact.
