The Jane Addams Hull House Association North Side Arts Center will become the anchor tenant in a newly renovated mixed use building at 1132-38 W. Wilson Ave. in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. The Center will occupy 10,000 of the building’s 12,000 square feet and is scheduled to open in late spring. The remaining space will be occupied by Connexio Café, an Internet café.
The building, developed by Bachelor Properties and managed by Bomberg Property Management, was originally built in 1909. It had become run down in recent years, and in 1990 its dilapidated state made it an appropriate setting as the rooming house featured in the film “Next of Kin.” The building was rehabbed in 2002 with financing provided by Community Investment Corp., a grant from the City of Chicago Department of Housing, and a Façade Rehab Grant from the Department of Planning and Development. Currently the upstairs is a licensed SRO (single room occupancy) with 55 tenants; it will remain. The arrival of Hull House’s arts program to the neighborhood, after 30 years on Broadway near Belmont, is an important component to the redevelopment of the block. The facility faces Truman College.
“Students at Truman College haven’t had a reason to cross the street in over two decades. This location was the former site of various businesses and a notorious tavern,” said Jay Bomberg, developer and property manager in Uptown and Edgewater. “The establishment of arts and instructional programs here will redefine the blocks of Wilson Avenue west of Broadway. The stabilization of this property has been the stimulus for redevelopment of the adjacent vacant lot and other parcels just west on Wilson. Our rehab supplements the development plans in the neighborhood, and the creation of an arts and entertainment district encompassing the Aragon, Riviera and Uptown Theaters, as well as nearby historic buildings.”
Jane Addams Hull House Association is committed to integrating art in the everyday life of those with whom they work, learn, laugh and teach. Art and music were integral parts of the funding and existence of Hull House as early as 1893. The early definition of the settlement house was grounded in the notion that Hull House was an open space for artistic expression for everyone.
“This new Arts Center serves as an essential part of our service agenda to families and communities in metropolitan Chicago. As our founder Jane Addams said, ‘Art and music feed the soul,’” said Clarence N. Wood, president/CEO.
The vision of the North Side Arts Center in Uptown is to provide new and exciting opportunities that embrace a diverse audience and reflect the overall mission of Hull House. The Hull House staff encourages enjoyment, enrichment and understanding of contemporary and traditional art forms by schools, community groups and under-served populations in Chicago. The strength of this community-based program is rooted in programs that address a myriad of issues using photography, ceramics, music and other art forms as an opportunity for artistic expression. Prominent in the facility will be a gallery to display artworks created by participants.
For information on the Hull House North Side Arts Center contact the Office of the President, Jane Addams Hull House Association, at (312) 906-8600, ext. 280.
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