08/14/2020: $25M Development in N. Austin -

Five acres of City-owned land in North Austin at N. Laramie Avenue and

W. Moffat Street could see development of a $25M community center if approved. Plans for the proposed North Austin Community Center call for a two-story, 140,000-square-foot complex with indoor basketball courts, batting cages, a multi-purpose room, classrooms, and community meeting rooms.

The multi-phase project, planned by developers By the Hand Club for Kids, and Grace & Peace Fellowship Church is expected to create 50 permanent jobs. Most recently used for industrial purposes, the land would be sold for its appraised value of $2.1 million, and funds placed in escrow to cover anticipated environmental remediation work.

A research team at the University of Illinois is doing a study supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). They are reaching out to small business owners across Illinois to gather information about the challenges companies are currently facing and how they manage those challenges. 

The first part of the study is a confidential 30-minute interview with small business owners. The second part, to distribute the survey based on the trends discerned from the interviews. The end purpose of the research is identifying the problems Illinois businesses are facing, and formulate policies to solve and address them. The principal investigators on the team are University of Illinois Professors Robert Lawless, Verity Winship, Melissa Graebner, and Jeremy McClane.

Click HERE to access additional information and a contact form.  

500’-160,000’ - short and long term leases

NOW LEASING...Click on addresses for interior views and details

Click HERE to download pdf listing of available current space

The Business Development Center at College of DuPage (COD) is accepting sealed bids and RFPs for Goods and Services. COD is committed to the economic development of disadvantaged business enterprises; qualified Minority, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Owned Businesses are highly encouraged to participate.

Click HERE to view/download .pdf of Open Bids

Two more Restorative Justice Community Courts are opening in September in the Avondale and Englewood neighborhoods; the first was RJCC was established in North Lawndale in 2017. The process helps heal trauma imposed onto the community and ends the vicious cycle of revenge and recidivism.

Community courts seek to resolve conflicts through restorative conferences and peace circles involving those affected by crime - defendants, victims, family members, friends, and others. It also gives young people a chance to redeem themselves instead of being warehoused in jail. This program is a start in the right direction.

Victims can directly address defendants to express how the criminal activity affected them, which aids in the healing process. Defendants are assigned community service to repair the harm caused by their actions, and if the cause is substance abuse, they must also go through a rehabilitation program.

seen left: Ribbon cutting for Restorative Justice Community Court in Avondale, at Restoration Hall, St. Hyacinth Basilica, 3657 W. George Street

Click here for IBC's - Click here for NWCC's