City sells site, plans relocation of Fleet and Facility Management headquarters

Chicago’s Department of Fleet and Facility Management (2FM) will relocate its headquarters and 200 jobs from West Town to Englewood through a city-owned land sale introduced Sept. 6 to City Council by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

“This new facility will increase efficiency for the city and benefit taxpayers while driving
economic development in the Englewood neighborhood,” Emanuel said in a statement. “By making smart investments like this one, we can double down on the progress we are making in a neighborhood like Englewood and generate economic benefits that reach every corner of Chicago.”

2FM’s current 18-acre headquarters complex at 1685 N. Throop St. in the North Branch
Industrial Corridor would be sold to developer Sterling Bay LLC for $104.7 million. A portion of the proceeds would be used to construct a new, $37 million maintenance headquarters at 6800 S. Wentworth Ave. The new 200,000-sq. ft. replacement building would maintain and repair city vehicles such as fire engines, garbage trucks, and snowplows.

“Moving operations from the North and Throop facility will not only save the city significant
operational costs, it will allow us to relocate to a new location that will be custom built to meet the needs of our operations,” said 2FM commissioner David Reynolds.

The Chicago Infrastructure Trust (CIT) is managing the design and development of the new maintenance headquarters. “The CIT is pleased to be partnering with the City of Chicago on this important project,” said CIT executive director Leslie Darling. “This project is a unique opportunity to select a development team to finance the project in addition to doing the design and construction.”