Land sale approved for Sankofa Wellness Village

The Community Development Commission has approved a land sale for the Sankofa Wellness Village. Located in West Garfield Park, the city-owned parcels are located at 4301 W. Madison, 4309 W. Madison, and 4329 W. Madison. The development will also acquire a parcel at 4313 W. Madison from the Cook County Land Bank to complete the assemblage.

The Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative, made up of New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, West Side United, and The Community Builders, are leading the development with important health and nonprofit partners Rush University Medical Center, Erie Family Health Centers, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, and others. 

Positioned as the largest building within the village, the Sankofa Village Wellness Center will occupy the city-owned lots in question and will provide West Garfield Park’s more than 17,000 residents with health care and wellness programs, before and after-school care, and create quality jobs. Designed in collaboration between Bureau Gemmell, Moody Nolan, and New Office, the 60,000 square foot building will rise at the corner of W. Madison St and S. Kildare Ave.

Erie Family Health Center plans to provide more than 6,000 patients annually with comprehensive health care services. Through a partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, thousands of people will have access to fitness activities and childcare programs. A new credit union on the ground floor will help 10,000 residents open a bank account, thereby providing strengthened economic security and mobility. 

The $35 million development will be getting funding from multiple sources including its winning from the Chicago Prize, New Market tax credits funds, and others. The development team is not seeking any TIF funding for the construction. If gaining approvals and finalizing funding go according to plan, the Sankofa Village Wellness Center could break ground by the end of the year.