T
he proposed relocation of the Cook County medical examiner's office from its current location at 2121 West Harrison Street to a two-building complex in the West Loop has been put on hold. The complex, which was purchased by TradeLane Properties for $15.5 million, includes a two-story, 80,000-square-foot building at 325 North Ashland Avenue and a 20,600-square-foot adjacent site at 1532 West Fulton Street.
Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. revealed that negotiations with the Illinois Medical District have reopened, effectively halting any further plans to move the office to the West Loop. Burnett stated that the initial talks had stalled due to issues with the Illinois Medical District, but those discussions have now resumed.
In August, a Change.org petition was launched by business owners in the Kinzie area, expressing strong disapproval of the proposed move. The petition argued that the medical examiner's office would deter customers and slow development in the area. The petition stated that bringing the CCME to the proposed location would turn the neighborhood into a vacant sector of aging warehouses and buildings in need of repair, as customers, guests, and clients would not visit a neighborhood next to a morgue.
While Burnett acknowledged these concerns, he stated that they were not the primary reason for the county's decision to reconsider the move. The exact reasons for the county's decision remain unclear.
TradeLane Properties had planned to sell the two-building complex to the county for $15.5 million, but the deal has now fallen through. As a result, TradeLane would take a $1.5 million loss on the sale.
TradeLane Properties has been active in the Chicago real estate market, recently purchasing 13 industrial properties around the city. Despite this, the company's plans to sell the West Loop complex to the county have been unsuccessful.
FPA Multifamily's Chicago buying spree has resulted in a significant discount for a property in Hoffman Estates. The exact details of this purchase remain unclear, but it is clear that FPA Multifamily is actively investing in Chicago real estate.
