CHA and CPL plan co-located housing, libraries

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago Housing Authority and Chicago Public Library plan to co-locate new mixed income housing and libraries.

The City of Chicago announced plans on Thursday to create three new residential developments alongside new libraries. The new developments and libraries are planned for the West Ridge, the Near West Side and the Irving Park communities.

A planned senior development at Pratt and Western will house a library on the ground floor.

On the Near West Side, the development is planned as part of the Roosevelt Square neighborhood, with a new branch of the Roosevelt Library near Taylor and Aberdeen.

In Irving Park, a new branch of the Independence Library will be built near Elston and Pulaski. That library was destroyed in a fire in October 2015.

"Chicago will be one of the first cities using this type of partnership between housing and libraries to benefit and beautify our neighborhoods," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a statement. "This model will create spaces everyone can enjoy, and I hope will be the next great civic projects here in Chicago."

The city will host a two-stage design competition for architects for the projects. The selection process is expected to begin by the end of the year.