What we’re reading this week — Dec. 8

On Friday evening we’re co-sponsoring the sneak preview event and fundraiser for David Schalliol’s upcoming documentary, “The Area”, about displacement in Englewood because of a railroad yard expansion. The party — there’s a DJ and drinks — starts at 5:30 PM at Lost Arts on Goose Island.

Themes this week: Vacant land and CTA

• The CTA will spend $75 million to start engineering the Red Line extension south from 95th to 130th (South Side Weekly)
• CTA sends letters to nearby homeowners saying they might want to buy their property for the extension (Chicago Reporter)
• A hotel proposed in the Fulton Market area at the southwest corner of Lake/Halsted is now an office building proposal (Curbed)
• Steppenwolf Theater is selling its landmarked building at the NE corner of Halsted/North, and a next door vacant lot that could become residential (Crain’s)
• Vacant land of former Ickes homes — next to new Cermak Green Line station — to get ~870 units, less than a third will be CHA (WBEZ)
• Block 37 shopping center on the market, again (Crain’s)
• Two national brands going to move into large mixed-use building under construction across from Wrigley Field (BisNow)
• Vacant land next to Kedzie Green Line station to become food business incubator “The Hatchery” (Austin Weekly News)