CTA to sell vacant South Side property for new health care campus in Washington Park; land-for-learning exchange will benefit college students and Chicago’s transit workforce
The Chicago Transit Board today authorized an agreement for the sale of vacant CTA-owned land to the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) for the development of Malcolm X College South Campus, a new health care-focused campus on the city’s South Side. This transaction supports the continued revitalization of the Washington Park neighborhood and strengthens the longstanding partnership between CTA and CCC.
The approximately 0.9-acre parcel, which was appraised at $370,000, is no longer required for transit operations. In exchange, and as part of the agreement, CCC will provide the equivalent value of the property in tuition credits to CTA employees over a five-year period.
This innovative exchange allows CTA to invest directly in workforce development and training while supporting CCC’s expansion of higher education opportunities on the South Side.
“This latest partnership is a win for transit, education and the surrounding neighborhood, and further demonstrates how CTA connects people, jobs and communities,” said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen. “By working together, we are creating new opportunities that will help residents across the Chicago region discover new career paths and move towards their professional goals.”
“City Colleges of Chicago creates pathways to upward mobility for talented Chicagoans across our great city, and this future campus will help to connect South Side residents to in-demand health-care careers,” said CCC Chancellor Juan Salgado. “We’re pleased to partner with CTA on this unique exchange that benefits Chicago communities and the Chicago transit workforce.”
The future Malcolm X College South Campus will be located just north of the Garfield Green Line station and will be ideally located to serve students who rely on transit for access to education. The CTA retains rights under the agreement to receive a portion of resale profits if the land is sold again within five years.
The transaction includes standard indemnification terms, environmental release provisions, and conditions for reversion in the event of early resale.