City Officials Eye Private Property to Spur Stockyards Plan

CHICAGO-Looking to bring industrial development to former railroad right-of-way and rail yards in the Stockyards area, city officials are eying privately owned properties in the 900 block of West 45th Street, the 4600 block of South Racine Avenue as well as 1000 and 1100 blocks of West 47th Street. If attempts to negotiate sales are unsuccessful, the Department of Planning and Development has received authority from the community development commission to use eminent domain powers.

The city council approved using tax increment financing in 1992, says John Molloy of the Department of Planning and Development. However, six parcels remain vacant or underused, he adds. The city owns property at 4550 S. Racine Ave., Molloy explains, and is looking to assemble surrounding irregularly-shaped lots.

Acquisition authority gives the department a green light to order appraisals, issue a request for proposals as well as explore potential environmental issues, Molloy says. “We suspect environmental issues, which is typical of old railroad properties,” he says.