PBC Board Awards Contract for New 7th District Police Station

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 13, 2007

Bennie Currie: (312) 744-9277

The Public Building Commission of Chicago today awarded a $21 million contract for construction of a new police station on the city’s South Side.

PBC board members voted to select Castle Construction Corp. as the general contractor for new 7th District Police Station construction project. The PBC is overseeing the project on behalf of the City of Chicago.

The new police station will be built on both sides of 63rd Street between Laflin and Ada streets. It will replace the current Englewood District Police Station that was built in 1954 at 6120 S. Racine Ave.

When completed, the new facility will include state-of-the-art computers and crime-fighting equipment, as well as space for community policing programs, officials said. The station will also feature male and female locker rooms and the building will be completely accessible for people with disabilities. Based on prototype design, the new 44,000 square-foot station will be twice the size of the current Englewood station.

Castle Construction has committed to at least 31 percent participation in the project by minority business enterprises and 4 percent participation by women business enterprises, officials said.

The station will be built under Mayor Richard M. Daley's Neighborhoods Alive program, which includes police stations and firehouses. Nearly 20 police stations and firehouses will be replaced under the program.

Other actions taken Tuesday by the PBC board are listed on the PBC's Web site at www.pbcchicago.com.

The PBC manages construction and renovation projects for the City of Chicago and its sister agencies. Mayor Daley serves as the PBC’s chairman.