Open Space Impact Fee Grants Would Support Six Projects

Six open space projects across Chicago would be supported through Open Space Impact Fee (OSIF) grants proposed to City Council today by Mayor Brandon Johnson. The projects and grant amounts include:

CircEsteem Plaza, 4730 N. Sheridan Road, Uptown
Up to $575,000 to create a 2,900-square-foot plaza with seating, pavers, planters and bike racks in front of the circus arts nonprofit CircEsteem. OSIF would cover the entirety of project costs.

Chicago Farmworks, 409 N. Albany Ave./411-19 N. Kedzie Ave., Humboldt Park
Up to $216,000 to support a pair of farming sites with irrigation, greenhouses, soil and shade structures. Total project costs are $318,500.

Goose Island Overlook, 1111 N. Elston Ave., West Town
Up to $800,000 to support the environmental remediation of a former gas plant for future redevelopment as a public park.

Kimball and Wellington Plaza, 2937 N. Wisner Ave., Avondale
Up to $400,000 to support construction of a 3,900-square-foot plaza with landscaping, seating, decorative materials and a memorial to community organizer Ivan Claudio Gonzalez. Total project costs are $600,000. The remainder of project costs would be paid by Cook County and state funding.

Montrose Metra Garden, 4350 N. Ravenswood Ave., North Center
Up to $79,200 for installation of a second water source at an existing neighborhood vegetable garden. OSIF would cover the entirety of project costs.

Garfield Park Community Orchards, 3001-40 W. Fifth Ave., East Garfield Park
Up to $137,696 in new funding to support the creation of two orchards. Total project costs are $1.8 million and will be supported by $273,848 in previously approved OSIF funding. To facilitate the project, vacant City lots valued at $39,266 would be sold to the NeighborSpace land trust for $1 each.

The OSIF program allocates fees paid by residential construction projects for open space improvements that offset the impact of new residents on community parks and related resources.