Lincoln Park – The Chicago City Council gave final approval on Wednesday to Francis W. Parker School’s long‑awaited expansion of its Lincoln Park campus. The $39 million project will replace a 117‑year‑old, 15‑unit residential building on Belden Avenue with a new five‑story academic building that will house middle‑school students, faculty and staff.
Project details and timeline
The new structure will be linked to the existing campus at 330 W. Webster Ave. by a pedestrian bridge over a public alley. It is designed to add space for roughly 125 additional students and 30 staff members over the next seven years, helping the school address current capacity constraints. The school also plans to install new lighting at its athletic field along Lincoln Park West.
Construction is slated to begin no earlier than 2028, with site improvements such as field lighting scheduled for the summer of 2027.
Community commitments
In exchange for the demolition permit, the school negotiated a package of concessions with Alderman Timmy Knudsen (43rd Ward). The agreement includes:
- Seven income‑restricted affordable‑housing units to be built at 2236 N. Clark St.
- A $500,000 fund, spread over 20 years, to support Lincoln Park High School and Abraham Lincoln Elementary School.
- A pledge to retain the apartment building at 317‑325 W. Belden Ave. as residential housing for the next 30 years.
- A 20‑year limit on expanding the school’s development boundary without written approval from the future 43rd Ward alderman.
School officials presented these commitments as a balanced solution that addresses neighborhood concerns while allowing the institution to grow its financial‑assistance program for families.
Opposition and alternative proposals
Despite the council’s vote, some Lincoln Park residents and neighborhood groups continue to object. Critics argue that the demolition removes much‑needed housing and that the school should expand within its existing six‑acre footprint. Resident Dima Cheetany, who lives at 329 W. Belden Ave., noted that six children currently living in the building attend Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and that the school’s “token payout covers only a fraction of what our children bring to our public schools.”
An alternative “Better Plan” was put forward by a community coalition, proposing a new five‑story academic building on the school’s parking lot, with a potential sixth‑story aquatic center. Parker board member Anny Gary countered that the Better Plan overestimates developable space on the parking lot by roughly 35‑40 percent, making it infeasible.
Financial context
Tuition at Parker ranges from $46,000 to $52,220 per student per year. The school says the expansion will enable it to increase its financial‑assistance program, offering more aid to families who qualify.
The council’s approval reflects a broader trend of Chicago’s aldermen working to balance development pressures with affordable‑housing needs, a priority for many constituents who worry about housing stability in the city’s historic neighborhoods.
Next steps
With the vote secured, Parker can move forward with final design work, permitting and the phased construction schedule. The school’s leadership emphasized that the project will proceed in a manner that respects the community’s historic character while delivering modern educational facilities for future generations.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
