Long-Vacant Michael Reese Site Poised for Development


For nearly a decade, the former Michael Reese Hospital site in the Bronzeville neighborhood has sat empty and unused.

In 2008, the city of Chicago purchased the nearly 50-acre property and tore down most of the buildings on it in anticipation of making it the 2016 Olympic Village. Those hopes, of course, were dashed in 2009 when Chicago wasn’t selected to host the 2016 Games.

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Since then, the city has had little success in finding a use for that property although some pushed for George Lucas’ narrative museum to be located there. Now the city has issued a request for proposals to sell and develop the site. What would be a good fit for that prime property and the surrounding neighborhood?

Here to share their thoughts are Paula Robinson, president of the Bronzeville Community Development Partnership whose stated mission is to develop the historic Bronzeville neighborhood into a sustainable international heritage tourism destination; and Ald. Sophia King of the 4th Ward, which encompasses the old Michael Reese Hospital site.


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