CHICAGO (WLS) -- An abandoned warehouse in the city's Humboldt Park neighborhood is getting new life from Amazon as a distribution center.
At the corner of Kostner and Division, Alderman Emma Mitts is preparing to welcome Amazon and it's 500 new jobs to the West Humboldt Park neighborhood.
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"We want them to build relationships not only with the 37th Ward because Amazon do represent all the Chicago, in particular I wanted to make sure they represent the West Side of Chicago. And that's a good thing," Mitts said.
Mitts said while the new Amazon jobs are expected to be non-union, they are opportunities and investment needed in this community.
"We know that when jobs are part of the fabric of a community, the violence goes down," said Jorge Matos, who grew up in Humboldt park and now is the Director of Safe Streets for the Alliance of Local Service Organizations.
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"Being able to bring more light and jobs, just positive energy into the community, I think is huge," Matos added. "I was one that had a second chance and had opportunities, and here I am running an organization and leading the charge on violence prevention in Humboldt Park. And I know there are many others out here that can do the same."
Matos hopes Amazon will hire from the community and help those with barriers to employment, like non-violent records, get on a more productive track for their safety and the safety of those in the community.