McKinley Park Existing Conditions Report

Through the outreach process, stakeholders have identified the revitalization of the CMD as an opportunity to attract non-polluting businesses to the neighborhood. Some residents suggested that the CMD should have mixed use spaces, including residential, commercial, and light industrial properties. Others suggested that eco-industry businesses, such as indoor farming facilities, shared kitchens, and food incubators would fit well with the CMD. Overall, there was a consensus that the potential uses within the CMD should provide jobs for the neighborhood without having an environmental impact on the community.

History of the CMD

Created in 1905 by an East coast inventor, Frederick Henry Prince, the 265-acre CMD was the first planned industrial district in the nation. Within ten years of its development, the district was expanded and housed more than 200 firms including a mix of light industrial, heavy industrial, as well as warehouse and distribution companies. Big name companies like Wrigley, Spiegel, and Goodyear operated within the district and were the area’s major employers. Many of the buildings within the CMD had direct rail connections. This made the shipping and transportation of goods convenient, even for the smallest companies operating within its premises. Aside from its excellent rail connection, the CMD offered combined district-based utilities, banking, business incubator services, and even had its own police force. For much of the 20th century, the bustling district was a thriving part of Chicago’s manufacturing sector and became one of the largest industrial parks in the world. 

Today, the CMD’s historic buildings stretch along Pershing Avenue, from Oakley Ave to Paulina Street, and encompass several zoning districts, including residential (RT-4), commercial (C1-3) and manufacturing (M1-1, M2-3). Each of these zoning districts has different permitted uses, which are outlined in Appendix A. Several buildings of the original CMD are also located east of Ashland Avenue between 35th Street and Pershing Road, within the boundaries of PMD 8. Although many of the companies that once operated within the CMD have left the neighborhood, the district is home to a variety of businesses that range from commercial to manufacturing establishments. Some businesses manufacture household items and metal products, while others are food caterers and wholesale food distributors. Two educational institutions are also located within the boundaries of the CMD, the National Latino Education Institute and Horizon Science Academy. Many of the historic CMD buildings still stand empty. However, there is interest in revitalizing the district for innovative uses that are compatible with the changing nature of manufacturing in the 21st century.

C40 Reinventing Cities Competition

The C40 Reinventing Cities Initiative is a global call for urban projects that transform underutilized sites into spaces that exemplify environmental sustainability and resiliency. In 2018, the City of Chicago offered a Pershing Road parcel, which includes two six story industrial buildings of McKinley Park’s historic CMD, as a bid site for the competition. The city’s participation inthe C40 competition aims to enhance Chicago’s southwest communities, particularly McKinley Park. Proposals for the site are encouraged to provide active uses and amenities that enhance Chicago’s workforce, and contribute to property values and the local tax base. Currently, the Pershing Road buildings are zoned for light industrial uses (M2-3) and are located immediately to the north of an active manufacturing base, so the city will consider proposals that are compatible with the existing land use context. Since the Reinventing Cities competition focuses on projects that promote environmental sustainability, the winning proposal is expected to be a carbon-neutral project that enhances the site’s resilience to flood events. As of September 2018, two teams have been selected to participate in the final phase of the competition, and will be submitting their proposals for the Pershing Road parcel.

From "Tour Offers Peek Inside Central Manufacturing District Buildings," published February 27, 2018, in the McKinley Park News: