An athletic and cultural complex has been selected as the winning response to an RFP by the Department of Planning & Development for vacant city-owned land at 2905 W. Madison in East Garfield Park. Planned by The Brim Foundation and P3 Markets, the project site is located at the southwest corner of the intersection of W. Madison St and N. Francisco Ave. 

Project Site at 2905 W. MadisonChicago DPD

Designed by bKL Architecture, the 30,000-square-foot Madison Street Athletic & Cultural Complex includes fitness facilities, an academic learning center, arts and culture hall, music and media studio, café, teaching kitchen, indoor baseball diamond, event space and outdoor activation space, plus parking.

Madison Street Athletic & Cultural Complex at 2905 W. MadisonbKL Architecture

The project was selected from two responses to a 2025 DPD Request for Proposals (RFP) to revitalize select city lots along Madison Street on the Near West Side and East Garfield Park. Responses were evaluated based on the proposed concept, as well as the development team’s financial capacity, relevant experience and ability to complete projects of a similar scale, among other factors.

Madison Street Athletic & Cultural Complex at 2905 W. MadisonbKL Architecture

"The project’s strategic mix of uses and high-quality design will contribute to Madison Street’s ongoing revitalization while supporting community health and well-being, especially for area youth,” Commissioner Boatright said.

Project Site at 2905 W. MadisonGoogle Maps

The proposed purchase price for the .95-acre site at 2905-29 W. Madison St. and 2900-14 W. Fifth Ave. is its appraised value of approximately $996,000. The $42.2 million athletic and cultural campus will be supported by potential city assistance that could include up to $10 million in financial grants, pending City Council approval.

As the project moves forward it will need various city approvals for any potential funding and for the city land sale. A community meeting with the 27th Ward office is anticipated in coming weeks to discuss the project. BOWA Construction will serve as the project’s general contractor once all approvals are secured and the project moves forward with construction.