Lease Agreements Proposed for Community Plazas on City-Owned Land

A trio of new public open spaces in Grand Boulevard, Englewood and North Lawndale would operate for three more years through formal leases proposed to City Council today by Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Part of the Department of Planning and Development's Public Outdoor Plaza (POP!) program, the leases would formalize the City's partnership with the community organizations who are managing each space on behalf of visitors:

• Teamwork Englewood would enter a three-year lease for Englewood Breakroom at 1534 W. 63rd St. Opened in July 2023, the plaza includes flexible lawn space, play equipment, a performance area, retail spaces and an ice-skating rink in the winter. The improvements were made possible by a $500,000 DPD grant.

• IAYV, Inc. would enter a three-year lease for South Side Sanctuary at 4702-04 S. King Drive. Opened in August 2024, the plaza revitalized a long-vacant lot with amenities for all ages, including performance space, a marketplace for local vendors and multiple murals. The improvements were made possible by a $712,000 DPD grant.

• Steans Family Foundation would enter a three-year lease for plaza spaces at 3907, 3921 and 3939-41 W. Roosevelt Road. Now under construction, the plazas include walking paths, landscaping, seating, large-scale public art, a pavilion and play equipment. Construction is privately funded.

DPD launched the POP! program in 2022 to revitalize underused land at strategic locations. As of summer 2024, 11 plazas have been completed through more than $5 million in City financial assistance.

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