New Target opens on former Cabrini Green land, provides new opportunities to Chicago Housing Authority residents

CHA CEO Charles Woodyard welcomes new retail anchor

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 12, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — CHA CEO Charles Woodyard and a host of key city officials were on hand Tuesday to commemorate an important snapshot in Chicago’s history – the opening of the Near North Target, 1200 N. Larabee.

The new Target is on the land of the former Cabrini-Green public housing development and will bring at least 200 jobs to the neighborhood, including 75 for public housing residents.

Also on hand were Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Pat Quinn.

“About 14 years ago, the Plan for Transformation began, and when we talk about transformation, this is what we’re talking about,” Woodyard said. “The integration of housing, community amenities and job-creating services are all necessary factors to make communities work.”

This is a vibrant community. Things are happening. This is a community. But every community needs its anchor. This Target store is the anchor we’re talking about.”

The new Target provides accessible, affordable retail for those families and the community. The groundbreaking for the Target was in October of 2012. Construction moved along in June and residents took part in a job training program.

The new Target will officially open for business on Sunday.
Former Cabrini-Green resident Beverly Hale was one of the 75 public housing residents who were offered a job.

“I’ll be able to pay bills more sufficiently, and I’ll be able to have money to do more of what I want to do,” Hale said. “And that speaks for itself. Getting up, leaving home, having something to do – it gives you a positive outlook.”

Brandon Murphy, also a former resident of Cabrini who now lives in the mixed-income community Parkside of Old Town, was looking for a second job close to home.

He was also hired.
“It gives us a chance at stability,” Murphy said. “It makes us become better adults. You can ask people for help. But the only person that can help you, really, is yourself. Because if you just sit around and don’t do anything, you’re not going to accomplish anything.”

Hale said:

“I’m one of the ones (my neighbors) are going to see some in the store and I’ll be like, ‘Hi, can I help you?’” she said, beaming. “And have that smile that will just blow you away. I mean, who would’ve thought that there would’ve ever been a Target? In Cabrini?”

Contact:
Press contacts:
Office of Communications – Chicago Housing Authority
Wendy Parks: (312) 913-7984; wparks (at) thecha (dot) org;
Matthew Aguilar: (312) 935-2646; maguilar (at) thecha (dot) org