City purchasing 30 acres in West Garfield Park for new CPD, CFD training academy

The city is moving forward with its plan to build a new training center for first responders in the West Garfield Park neighborhood by committing to purchase more than 30 acres for the new complex, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has announced. According to reports earlier in the month when plans to build the new facility were first unveiled, the campus, which will combine Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department recruit training under one facility, is expected to cost $95 million and will take two years to construct.

In addition to the news of the land acquisition, the mayor also shared an image of the future CPD and CFD recruit training campus over the weekend. No architect was mentioned in the announcement.

According to the mayor’s office, the city will be using funds from the $104.7 million sale of the Department of Fleet and Facility’s former riverfront location near Goose Island to developer Sterling Bay to help pay for the new training center in West Garfield Park. The sale of the former Fleet and Facility site is expected to close later this year.

• Mayor Emanuel Announces Major Milestone in Development of New Public Safety Training Academy [City of Chicago]
• Giant ‘For Sale’ sign placed on Department of Fleet and Facility’s riverfront site [Curbed Chicago]
• City pitches sale, redevelopment of 18-acre riverfront facility [Curbed Chicago]