City Council approves rezoning for Puerto Rican Arts Alliance

The Chicago City Council has approved a rezoning for the expansion of the Puerto Rican Arts community center at 3000 N. Elbridge. Located at the intersection of N. Central Park Ave and N. Elbridge Ave just off of the Milwaukee Ave corridor, the project will combine the organization's existing building with the collection of structures adjacent to it.

The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance is a 27-year-old non-profit organization. PRAA serves as a cultural cornerstone, reaching over 25,000 audience members and young people annually through diverse music, arts and cultural education programming. The organization will use the expanded space to operate culturally enriching and transforming programs, performances, exhibitions, and events.

Designed by LBBA, the expansion will renovate the building to the east into new gallery space and restrooms with a renovated front facade with new entry. The open site in between the two will be enclosed along the street with a new vestibule connecting the buildings on either side of it with the rest of the lot converted into a courtyard space for the organization. Four parking spaces will be provided within the project at the back of the site accessed from the alley.

To allow for the expansion, the City Council had approved the requested rezoning from B3-2 and RS-3 to a unified B3-2.