CTA move to West Side opens 120 N. Racine up for development

The Chicago Transit Authority has announced plans to build a new Control and Training Center in West Garfield Park, opening up their current building at 120 N. Racine to the potential for another massive Fulton Market development.

“CTA choosing the Near West Side for their new Control Center Operations and Training Center is the latest example of how we are working together to modernize and provide better services for the City as a whole while revitalizing historically underinvested communities,” said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “This new project complements the ongoing Invest South/West program and is the latest local government facility to be constructed in the area, which together will help attract future economic development and job opportunities for this community.”

Planned for the northeast corner of W. Lake St and N. Pulaski Ave, the new facility would measure 150,000 square feet and house the CTA’s 24/7 Control Center, which oversees the operation of and communication with buses, trains and power on the rail system. The building will also serve as the CTA’s main training center for a wide range of operating, maintenance and customer-facing personnel.

Orchestrated in collaboration with developer Farpoint Development, the development will replace the CTA’s current, outdated operations center at 120 N. Racine. The existing facility does not meet current security and threat standards, and is in need of costly infrastructure repair and capital investment. While no price has been disclosed, the sale of 120 N. Racine to Farpoint will help pay for the project, as well as funding from Rebuild Illinois, the state’s infrastructure funding program, and CTA’s capital budget. Construction could begin as early as April 2024 and continue through April 2026. 

With the CTA out of the picture at 120 N. Racine, Farpoint Development as the new owner of the site will be seeking to capitalize on Fulton Market’s building boom. According to Crains, the building could be demolished and replaced with a development measuring over 1 million square feet. Details and a timeline on the new development have not been made public or submitted to the city.