A $515,000 community arts space will be developed in South Shore through a Cityowned land sale approved today by City Council.

The group of 15 City-owned vacant lots on the 6900 and 7000 blocks of South Kenwood Avenue will be sold to the non-profit Rebuild Foundation for redevelopment as Kenwood Gardens, which is planned to feature outdoor arts, educational programs, artists’ studio pods, and a pottery kiln staffed by 17 part- and full-time workers. The sale price will be the lots’ appraised value of $190,000.

Proceeds from the sale will be placed in escrow to cover up to $310,000 in potential environmental remediation costs on the 1.2-acre site.

The Rebuild Foundation is a collaboration of local organizations established by University of Chicago professor and artist Theaster Gates that promotes arts and cultural initiatives in underserved neighborhoods.

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