Chicago's City Hall is scheduled to undergo a $12 million consolidation and renovation next year that Mayor Rahm Emanuel said eventually will save taxpayers money.
Emanuel announced Thursday several departments will move out of rented office space in the Loop and back into City Hall. The city hopes to recoup the millions spent on the renovations over three years because Emanuel said it won't have to pay the rent at 33 N. LaSalle St. and 30 N. LaSalle St.
The switch is expected to be completed by the end of next year.
“By taking a look at the locations of City departments more holistically, we were able to strategically improve the way our departments function and interact on a day-to-day basis,” Emanuel said. “This will lead to providing better services, increased efficiency and, most importantly, millions in annual taxpayer savings.”
Among the changes, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events will be consolidated into one location and moved from the eighth floor of City Hall to the Cultural Center. The Department of Water Management’s Sewer Permitting function will move from the eighth floor of City Hall to the ninth floor, the Department of Finance will be consolidated on the seventh floor, and Human Resources will move from the eleventh to the eighth floor.
That frees up space for the Landmarks division of the Department of Housing and Economic Development on the eleventh floor and a portion of Law on the fourth floor.
“When the work is complete not only will we save the money currently being spent to lease 33 N. LaSalle, we’ll also have made some long needed improvements to City Hall and used the space more effectively,” Commissioner David Reynolds.
