Ald. Cappleman is excited to share the news that the Clarendon Park Community Center will be renovated.
During an extensive process led by the Chicago Park District, the community overwhelmingly supported a limited renovation of the building. The other options presented included a full remodel, which would have included restoring architectural details like decorative towers; a new building on the existing site; and a new building on a new site. The limited renovation will bring the building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, add an elevator, create a new lobby and address ongoing issues such as water leakage. One more community meeting will be held at a time to be announced to show more detailed project plans.
The Park District projected that the limited remodel will cost $22 million. The project is made possible by the passage of the Clarendon/Montrose Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) District, which contributed $4.6 million to the Chicago Park District to use at this site. The Park District will fundraise the remainder of the cost.
Ald. Cappleman will advocate that the renovation be completed in phases for as little impact as possible on park programming, as the community has requested.
Special thanks go to the Clarendon Park Advisory Council, which has shepherded this project along the way. We look forward to a renovated community center that will serve 46th ward residents for decades to come.
