New Library Coming To Altgeld Gardens

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The City of Chicago announced Wednesday it will build a new, state-of-the-art library at Altgeld Gardens, in partnership with the Chicago Housing Authority.

Chicago Library Commissioner Brian Bannon said the new library will be built on Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) owned land at 130th Street near Ellis Avenue.

"The new facility will offer some of the traditional library services that we have all come to know and love, books and computers, technology and children's programming" Bannon said. "But we will also have a digital media lab for teens."

Chicago Housing Authority CEO, Eugene Jones said the library will have programs for both youth and families, including workforce programs for adults, WBBM's Craig Dellimore reports.

"I think it's a great honor for us to have a partnership with Brian and Chicago Public Libraries to sit here and look at the community benefit. We can work together and bring more resources to our residents," Jones said.

Libraries play a vital role in the community, Bannon said. The new library will meet the needs of all people in the community.

"We are doubling down on the residents of Chicago one neighborhood at a time by increasing access to key educational and technology tools through our library system," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "Important investments like these ensure that children can build bright futures in Altgeld Gardens, across the South Side and throughout the entire City of Chicago."

Construction for the new library will begin next year.

The new library is part of a larger plan in the redevelopment of Altgeld Gardens, one of CHA's oldest and most historic developments.

The redevelopment work includes modernizing and gut rehabing of 218 housing units in 25 buildings. One Hundred Forty Two of the 218 units have been completed. The remainder of the work is expected to be finished in the next several weeks. Other work includes the new Gautreaux Child Development Center and other community amenities, the City of Chicago said in a statement.

"Strong, healthy communities require community anchors like this," Jones said. "CHA is proud to invest in this project as we leverage our resources to help build better neighborhoods so our families can build better lives."