LINCOLN PARK — The former A. Finkl & Sons Co. steel plant is set to be demolished, according to a report.
The 28-acre steel plant located just east of the river was sold to a German steel firm in 2008 and had been finalizing a move to a facility in the Burnside Industrial corridor.
Demolition of the mill could begin within the next two months, according to a Crain's report, and would last between six to 12 months.
The future of the property, which lines Cortland Street serving as a gateway to Lincoln Park from the west, has been the topic of discussion for years.
Paul Biasco discusses one plan to bring high-tech companies to the site:
Most recently, the economic development group North Branch Works hosted the first of a number of community meetings aimed at developing a transition plan for a 40-acre area that includes the Finkl plant as well as the former Gutmann Tannery and A. Lakin & Sons property.
Attendees at the meeting, including a number of prominent developers, local residents and area stakeholders, voiced support for a plan that would encourage high-tech manufacturing and digital companies to establish businesses on the site.
Representatives from Finkl have declined to take part in the planning process.
Mike Holzer, executive director of North Branch River Works, said he was unaware until Tuesday of the plans to demolish the Finkl site.
"We have occasionally talked to [Finkl], but our communication with them is not the best at the moment," Holzer said.
The site is part of a planned manufacturing district, limiting the types of businesses that can move excluding most retail and residential uses.
North Branch Works is seeking to maintain the planned manufacturing district along the corridor between Clybourn and Elston avenues.
"We did not have many voices at that meeting that said tear it down or replace it with condos or houses or big box retail," Holzer said. "Most people wanted to see most industrial use come into that site albeit they are interested in cleaner uses for more modern industry."
Representatives of Finkl could not be reached for comment.
