CDC approves $7 million in TIF for Fillmore Center

The Community Development Commission has approved $7 million in TIF for The Fillmore Center at 4100 W. Fillmore. Planned by the Steans Family Foundation, the 168,000-sf industrial 5-story brick building, which was constructed in 1913, is located on a 3.53-acre site. The building is ripe with deferred maintenance, all to be addressed through the rehabilitation. 

Significant exterior issues include roof decomposition, brick façade deterioration, broken/unworkable windows, crumbling walkways and parking lot, non-working doors and lack of landscaping. Interior issues abound, including old electrical wiring, lack of working heating/cooling systems, aging plumbing and deteriorating walls and ceilings. 

The Fillmore Center proposal will renovate and repurpose the 168,000 sf, 5-story brick industrial building. It is expected to house the Fillmore Linen Service LLC, a 45,000-sf commercial laundry facility for the medical district, and small MBE neighborhood businesses including a coffee roasting and packaging facility, a wholesale flower distribution center, a packaging facility and a construction company. The development is expected to generate a total of 300 jobs.  

With a total expected development cost of $40.5 million, the project would be funded by $10 million in equity, $7 million in TIF, $7.5 million in New Market Tax Credits, $3 million from a DECO Grant, and $13 million in private philanthropy. 

With the approval from the CDC, the proposed TIF funding will proceed to City Hall to get a final approval from the City Council. Construction is expected to begin in Q1 2024 and complete in Q4 2024.