June 12, 2014

Mayor Emanuel Announces Latest Round of City Space Consolidations to Save $3.7 Million in Annual Lease Costs

This Round Brings Total Annual Lease Savings for Completed and Planned Consolidations to $10.8 Million

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Department of Fleet and Facility Management today announced the latest round of space consolidations that will save the City approximately $3.7 million in annual lease costs. This latest round of consolidations builds upon the approximately $7.1 million in savings achieved from previous lease terminations, bringing the total lease savings over the past three years to $10.8 million. By the end of 2015, as a result of these actions, the City will have vacated 653,514 square feet of office and industrial space and more than eight acres of vacant land.

“By being smarter about how we use city assets, we continue to save taxpayer dollars and improve government efficiency,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. We will continue to find new and innovative ways of using our existing facilities most effectively to deliver better value to taxpayers.”

In late 2014 and early 2015 the City will vacate over 150,000 square feet of leased office space at 120 N. Racine and 50 W. Washington. The City currently leases office space at these buildings for the following City departments: Buildings; Streets and Sanitation; Innovation and Technology; Police; and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications. By vacating these spaces the City will save about $2.3 million in annual least costs.

“Moving our operations currently housed at 120 N. Racine will allow the City to optimize its resources, saving money on property that was formerly leased and giving the Department of Buildings the unique opportunity to provide more accessible and expanded services to our customers,” said Felicia Davis, Commissioner, City of Chicago Department of Buildings.

Also in 2015, the City will vacate 225,000 square feet of leased industrial space at 900 E. 103rd, currently used by the City departments of Streets and Sanitation and Transportation, for a savings of about $1.4 million in annual lease costs. Streets and Sanitation’s operations will move to the City’s existing operational campus at 10101 S. Stony Avenue, which already has a salt dome, a fuel facility, and an equipment maintenance facility.

“Mayor Emanuel is continuously looking for ways to improve the City’s delivery of services,” said Charles L. Williams, the Commissioner, City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation. “Not only does this move save money, but it will further improve crew productivity and efficiency by locating our operations near the existing salt dome, fuel site and equipment maintenance facility.”

The Department of Fleet and Facility Management estimates the costs of the consolidations to total approximately $12.1 million which will be recouped within 40 months. The planned improvements and consolidations will support the following departmental moves:

  • The Department of Buildings will move its operations in leased space at 120 N. Racine to City-owned space at 2045 W. Washington, thereby using the City-owned space more effectively and increasing the scope of services provided to its customers.
  • The Department of Streets and Sanitation will move its Traffic Services operations from leased space at 120 N. Racine to City-owned space at 1869 W. Pershing thereby using the City-owned space more effectively.
  • The Office of Emergency Management and Communications will move its Traffic Management operations from leased space at 120 N. Racine to City-owned space at 2045 W. Washington.
  • The Department of Innovation and Technology will move from leased space in 50 W. Washington to the 333 S. State; the City only pays operating costs for this space through the end of 2023.
  • The Police Department will move its operations from leased space at 50 W. Washington into space in City Hall which was recently made available by 2013 City Hall consolidation activities.
  • The Department of Streets and Sanitation will move its operations, including the Bureau of Forestry, from leased space at 900 E. 103rd to the City-owned operational campus at 10101 S. Stony Avenue. 
  • The Department of Transportation will move its operation from leased space at 900 E. 103rd to other existing City-owned facilities.

“Under Mayor Emanuel’s direction my department has saved taxpayer dollars by reducing the City’s footprint and better utilizing existing space,” stated David Reynolds, Commissioner, City of Chicago Department of Fleet and Facility Management. “This latest space consolidation will further right-size our government and make City departments more efficient.”


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