Cook County Looks to Public Land for New Homes and Economic Opportunity (Chicago, IL) — Cook County is pursuing two redevelopment efforts that could turn underused public property into places where residents can find an affordable home and where healthcare, research and business partnerships can grow.
The projects begin with different goals, but share a practical question: How can land already owned by the public better serve the people who live around it?
In Logan Square, the County is seeking a developer for a mixed-use project at 2840–2844 W. Fullerton Ave. The proposed development would make all residential units affordable. The 0.21-acre property, located near transit and neighborhood amenities, could accommodate approximately 60 homes, depending on design and zoning approvals.
For a household balancing rent, transportation and everyday expenses, an affordable home near transit can offer more than a place to live. It can make the trip to work easier and help put neighborhood services within reach.
The County is seeking developers with experience in community engagement, accessible and sustainable design, affordable housing financing and long-term management of income-restricted housing.
A separate effort, Harrison Square, invites ideas for County-owned land surrounding Cook County Health’s Stroger Hospital campus in the Illinois Medical District. Developers, healthcare institutions, researchers and investors are being asked to suggest potential uses and partnerships. The County has not selected a preferred concept.
That invitation opens a conversation about how development around a major healthcare campus could connect institutional investment with opportunities for the surrounding community. The proposals will help the County determine whether and how to move forward.
The County’s application schedule lists a noon Central Time deadline of Nov. 16, 2026, for the Fullerton Avenue housing proposals. Harrison Square responses are due at noon Central Time on Nov. 19, 2026. Application materials and submission instructions are available through the Bureau of Asset Management’s Open Calls page.
Both efforts are still taking shape. Their lasting value will come from how well the eventual developments translate public land into benefits residents can see and use.
Cook County Looks to Public Land for New Homes and Economic Opportunity
