Business & Tech
Sale Of Former Rich Port YMCA Site in La Grange Approved
Sale of former Rich Port YMCA site in La Grange approved by YMCA Board of Trustees, Board of Managers.
Officials of the YMCA of Metro Chicago have approved the sale of the former Rich Port YMCA property in La Grange, the YMCA announced Tuesday.
The YMCA Board of Trustees and Board of Managers each voted Tuesday to approve the bid that's somewhere "in the neighborhood of $9 million," from Opus Development Company to redevelop the site, located at 31 E. Ogden Ave. in La Grange, according to a news release from the YMCA of Metro Chicago.
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Three years after demolishing the Rich Port YMCA, the YMCA of Metro Chicago started seeking proposals to re-develop the former site over the summer. The winning bid is a multi-use development proposed by the Minneapolis-based firm, which was one of nine bidders in response to a request for proposal for the property issued earlier this summer, according to the release.
The Opus project includes housing, retail space and parking, but no YMCA, despite the extra consideration given to bidders with plans to include a facility, according to the release.
The property, located at 31 E. Ogden Ave., would ideally include a new facility for the YMCA, according to a news release sent in July. The YMCA was seeking developers with "creative" options for a mixed-use development.
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"We are disappointed that current market conditions do not support the development of a new facility in La Grange," Richard Malone, CEO of the YMCA of Metro Chicago, said in a statement. "But the YMCA is way more than a gym. Community service is at the core of the Y's mission and we are committed to continuing our many programs in the Greater La Grange area.
Village of La Grange Community Development Director Patrick Benjamin said the Village is pleased that the prime parcel of downtown land may soon be redeveloped.
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“We have enjoyed a good working relationship with the Greater La Grange YMCA for many years. We look forward to working with the Y through the due diligence phase of this project,” Benjamin said in a statement. “We are encouraged by their continuing commitment to La Grange and applaud their intention to remain a strong presence in our community.”
For more than 10 years, the YMCA of Metro Chicago has been working with the La Grange community to develop potential sources of capital to build a new, permanent facility.
In 2006, the YMCA decided it would be more feasible to build a new facility than renovate the old building. The plans stalled because of the economy, and the building was demolished in 2010.
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