County updated on amendment allowing sale of parking parcel for Advocate Health ‘beacon’ project

Celia Benton, director of economic development in the Department of Administrative Services, told the County Board committee that Wiegand Investments 2711 LLC is seeking an amendment to its 2015 development agreement to allow the sale of a portion of the property parking area so a new buyer can expand the former Wisconsin Avenue School site.

Benton said the original agreement requires county approval for a variation of 20% or more in project square footage and that Wiegand wishes to sell the lower half of the parking section to Advocate Health for its Beacon Project. Benton said Advocate plans “to open a $50,000,000 health and wellness center to provide a range of physical, mental, and social wellness programs,” with programming developed after “14 listening sessions” involving more than 200 neighbors and 40 community organizations.

The Beacon Project’s stated programming includes prenatal and postnatal care, violence prevention, eviction support and housing assistance, fresh food access, chronic disease prevention and early childhood education, Benton said. She added that Advocate plans a spring 2026 groundbreaking.

Developer Rick Wiegand, on the call, said the former hospital building remains standing and that demolition, interior abatement and roof and exterior repairs have been completed; he described efforts over the past decade to find a suitable reuse and said senior housing is among contemplated uses for the building that would remain on the site. Wiegand also said the existing parking footprint allowed the southern section to be split off for Advocate’s needs while the northern portion would remain for the building’s use.

Committee members asked whether the board retains oversight. Benton said the item was presented out of respect for the committee because the original development agreement involved board oversight; she described the presentation as informational unless the committee directed otherwise.

On a motion by Supervisor Reginald Logsdon to receive and place the informational report on file, the committee approved the recommendation 5-0. The report will be forwarded to the full board per the committee motion.