Development Update: May 2009

By Dennis McClendon

Printer's Square Park Design

Look for construction fencing to go up mid-May (finally) for Printer's Square Park, and for groundbreaking to begin shortly thereafter. The project should be completed approximately 120 days later.

The park, planned for the block between Federal and South Dearborn Streets, just outside Printer's Square and south of the Transportation Building at 600 S. Dearborn, has been a long time coming. The space is about a quarter of an acre and will combine what is currently a vacant parking lot and a small park area with a fountain, along with two access roads that connect Dearborn and Federal. A proposed design is shown to the right.

Below, an early rendering shows some of the ideas to be incorporated, including benches that resemble the movable printers' type that was used in the heyday of Printer's Row. Fragments of type will allude to the forgotten street names of the area, including Pacific Avenue, Edina Street, and Hubbard Place.

**UPDATE AS OF 5/13: Ald Fioretti has decided to postpone the start of this project until during the Lit Fest in the first weekend of June when there will be a groundbreaking ceremony.

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Ald. Fioretti has announced several resurfacing projects using money from the new state capital program. Streets to be repaved include the following: State from Congress to 18th; Cermak from King Dr. to Clark; and Indiana from 16th to Cermak.

Printers Square Park Rendering