The Chicagoan

The Chicago Fire Football Club officially opened its new training facility on the Near West Side this week, holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony that highlighted the organization's investment in the area. However, the event unfolded under the weight of ongoing tensions from public housing residents and community advocates, many of whom continue to question the deal that allowed the soccer club to build on land once home to the Chicago Housing Authority’s ABLA Homes.

Photo Provided by Official Chicago Fire FC Website.

Those tensions were immediately visible as CHA residents who attended the event were asked to leave the facility before the program began. Residents stood quietly inside the space before Chicago Fire staff and security, along with Chicago police, escorted them out. According to Mary Baggett, president of the ABLA Homes Local Advisory Council, the residents had arrived with intentions to disrupt the ceremony, though some of those removed disputed that claim, stating they only wanted to observe and learn more about the facility's impact on their neighborhood.

The site of the new Endeavor Health Performance Center occupies part of the former ABLA Homes public housing complex, a property that has been at the center of controversy since the lease was approved. After initial opposition, the City Council reversed course in 2022, and construction began the following year. Housing advocates sued the CHA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and former HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, arguing that the deal lacked proper oversight. That lawsuit was dismissed in October.

The 23-acre training facility features five fields, hydrotherapy amenities, and a dedicated space for sports medicine. Under the terms of the agreement, the Fire's lease is expected to provide approximately $40 million over 40 years to support existing CHA housing projects, along with an additional $8 million commitment to fund improvements at Brooks Homes, build a community center for residents, and create a parking lot for the William Jones Apartments. Construction on the community center and parking lot is set to begin this spring.

Chicago Fire Chairman Joe Mansueto described the facility as a significant civic investment and pledged to operate as a “good neighbor” to the surrounding community. Despite these assurances, critics of the project remain unconvinced. Concerns persist over the use of public land intended for affordable housing, as well as the limited economic opportunities the project has generated for nearby residents.

Area pastors, former residents of the ABLA Homes, and worker advocacy groups have voiced frustration over the process and the outcomes. Co-pastors at Bethel Mennonite Community Church, located near the facility, said they had engaged with the CHA for years regarding the future of the land but were excluded from final decisions. They have continued to oppose the project, citing a lack of transparency and unfulfilled commitments to local input.

Employment opportunities tied to the facility have also been a point of contention. Chicago Fire representatives report that 12 local residents were hired during the construction phase, with roles spanning landscaping, concrete work, and field installation. The Fire also partnered with a Black-owned general contractor familiar with hiring from the Near West Side. In total, $5.3 million in operational spending has been directed toward businesses that meet HUD’s Section 3 guidelines, which prioritize hiring from low-income communities.

However, some residents argue these efforts fall short of the project's potential. Mario Godfrey, a former ABLA Homes resident who secured part-time work through the CHA's Brooks Homes renovation project, said that while any employment is appreciated, the number of jobs provided by the Fire has been limited. Local advocacy groups, including Working Family Solidarity, have echoed these sentiments, regularly meeting with residents to assess unmet job needs.

According to CHA officials, the Fire has met most of the employment goals outlined in its agreement with HUD, though it remains about 4% below target. Paul Cadwell, the Fire’s senior vice president of community programs, noted that more opportunities are expected as the facility shifts from construction to operations, with future roles tied to the community center and ongoing maintenance. An internship program designed for CHA residents is scheduled to launch later this year, offering placements in various departments within the club.

Despite these initiatives, many in the community remain focused on the broader issue: the use of public land originally designated for housing. Longtime residents, local leaders, and advocates continue to question whether the presence of a private sports facility aligns with the needs of an area that has historically struggled with displacement and underinvestment.

As the Fire’s new home becomes part of the Near West Side landscape, the underlying debate over land use, economic equity, and community participation shows little sign of settling. For residents who have lived through decades of redevelopment plans, the question remains whether promises made will lead to meaningful benefits—or simply become part of a familiar pattern of projects moving forward while local voices are left behind.