Mayor Charges Committee To Decide Fate Of Vacant Schools
By aaroncynic in News on Aug 23, 2013 7:20PM
Photo credit: Patrick Pyszka/City of Chicago
Since Chicago will have 50 fewer schools at the start of the new school year next week, it means we also now have 50 more vacant buildings with uncertain futures.
To solve the issue, Mayor Emanuel has created a 13 member committee to determine how to repurpose those 50 school buildings. Wilbur Milhouse, owner of a large construction and engineering firm and chair of the committee, told the Sun-Times yesterday:
“In other cities, I’ve seen them take schools and make them into urban gardens, theaters, community centers or mixed-use loft space. I’ve seen them repurpose schools to where other agencies could utilize and rent out the space.”
During the fight over the school closings, community members and others often expressed anger and fear the shuttered buildings would either remain vacant, like several other CPS buildings, or be turned into charter schools. Milhouse said no buildings would remain vacant, but for the time being they would be “boarded up tight.” CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett has repeatedly said no CPS property would be given to charters, but the head of the committee said it would be up to the community to decide.
While both Milhouse and the mayor have said there would be a process for engaging area residents, given the way residents were “engaged” over their neighborhood schools closing, there’s definitely reason for skepticism.
Hundreds of community members in every neighborhood passionately and tirelessly fought to keep those buildings as schools and their wishes fell on very deaf ears. Considering that and the number of developers on the committee, it’s not surprising some are looking at this as a land grab. Rev. Marshall Hatch, senior pastor of New Mount Pilgrim MB Church in Garfield Park told the Sun-Times:
“I wouldn’t say that’s the goal, but that’s gonna be the effect. When you close the schools, it moves people off the land and allows real estate speculators to buy land at cheap prices. All of these properties will eventually be banked and bought for little or nothing.”