CHICAGO— Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson, Ald. Pat Dowell, and Department of Planning and Development Commissioner Ciere Boatright joined community leaders and project partners to celebrate the ribbon cutting of a newly rehabilitated professional office building at 4517 S.
State St. in the Grand Boulevard community.
The City-backed project transforms a century-old building into a modern workspace while supporting continued investment and revitalization along the State Street corridor.
“When we support neighborhood businesses, we invest in the people, ideas, and opportunities that keep our communities strong,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “The Estate Escape represents what is possible when we revitalize our neighborhoods and empower local entrepreneurs to build a stronger, more equitable Chicago.
I will continue to work with partners to create spaces that strengthen local economies, serve our communities, and lay the foundation for generations to come.”
The $327,000 rehabilitation project, led by Steps Inc. and known as The Estate Escape, transformed the historic building with all new building systems, energy-efficient materials, employee workspaces, and a conference room that will be available for community meetings.
The investment complements the more than $40 million Legends South residential campus currently under construction across the street, contributing to continued revitalization along the State Street corridor.
The project was supported by $245,625 in grant assistance through DPD’s Community Development Grant program.
“This building is a survivor, enduring systemic disinvestment in the ‘50s, urban renewal in the ’60s, and decades of demolitions that followed on nearby blocks,” saidDPD Commissioner Ciere Boatright.“This investment preserves the building for a contemporary use and ensures it's at the forefront of State Street's revival and additional investments that are on the way.”
The Estate Escape was developed by Steps Inc. owner Nicole Wheatly as the home for her professional consulting practice specializing in real estate and business management.
The two-story office is expected to support a staff of five people and includes a conference room that will be available for community meetings.
The building’s previous owners lived on the second floor for more than 50 years while operating a mechanic’s shop on the ground floor, making the rehabilitation an investment in both the future of the building and the continued revitalization of the surrounding corridor.
The rehabilitation is among more than 200 South Side business projects approved for $335 million in grant assistance since Mayor Johnson took office in 2023.
Total project costs are estimated at $1.7 billion.
More information about DPD grant opportunities is available at Chicago.gov/DPDGrants.