12,000 MODULAR HOMES, PLANT EYED FOR SOUTH WORKS SITE
As many as 12,000 modular homes — along with a plant to build them — may rise on the 430- acre site of the old U. S. Steel South Works plant, the local alderman said Tuesday.
Last year, a split between the steel giant and prominent Chicago developer Dan McCaffery killed a similarly ambitious plan to build a “new city” on the long- vacant lakefront site roughly between 83rd and 92nd streets and Lake Shore Drive and the lake.
McCaffery’s plan called for building as many as 13,000 homes, 17.5 million square feet of commercial space and a marina with slips for 1,500 boats.
Now a joint venture between Barcelona Housing Systems and WELink has emerged as the winning bidder for the massive site.
Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza ( 10th) said she has been working with Barcelona Housing officials, who have also met with the city’s Department of Buildings and the building trades.
“They did their due diligence, and they’ve got all of their ducks in a row. They’re gonna be building a manufacturing [ plant] on the property where they’re going to be building modular homes. They’ve done it in Barcelona and Argentina. It’s a new, innovative product that’s never been here before,” Garza said.
“South Works is gonna be used as a prototype to, hopefully, build these houses all over the Midwest.”
Chicago Federation of Labor President Jorge Ramirez said he is “always excited” about the prospect of development with potential to put hundreds of members of the building trades towork.
“I’ve just got to make sure that there’s a meeting of the minds as to how these things are gonna get done,” Ramirez said.
Barcelona Housing officials could not be reached for comment. Neither could Larry Goldwasser, a senior director for Cushman & Wakefield, the real estate broker hired last year to market the property.
McCaffery wished Barcelona Housing the best. “They have ready money. As I understand it, they’re a very large company with very large backers. Cash is king,” McCaffery said.