In a recent board meeting, the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) board discussed the sale of the former Calhoun North Elementary School, located at 2833 West Adams Street. Steven Stoltz, the director of real estate for the Department of Capital and Facility Operations, recommended accepting a bid from Merillac Saint Vincent Ministries Inc., a nonprofit organization with over a century of community service experience.

The property, which has been vacant since 2013 and is in poor condition, spans 2.4 acres and includes a 76,000 square foot building. An appraisal estimated its fair market value at $305,000. The property was previously offered for sale in 2017 but was not successfully sold due to the bankruptcy of the initial bidder, Heartland Housing Inc.

After reopening bids on December 15, 2023, only Merillac Saint Vincent Ministries submitted a proposal, initially bidding $125,000 but later increasing it to $200,000. A community meeting held on July 31, 2024, showcased the organization's redevelopment plans, which received strong local support. Their vision includes transforming the site into a community hub offering various services such as supportive housing, programs for at-risk youth, health services, and job training.

The sale will include a deed restriction mandating that the property be used for community services for at least ten years, aligning with CPS's commitment to redevelop closed schools for community benefit. Additional restrictions will prevent the property from being used as a K-12 charter school or for the sale of alcohol and tobacco. If these conditions are violated, ownership will revert to CPS.

This sale is expected to relieve CPS of the annual maintenance costs of approximately $125,000 associated with the vacant building, marking a significant step towards revitalizing the property for community use.