CITY HALL — A City Council committee signed off Monday on allotting $2.6 million in local development funds to Amundsen High School for repairs to its gymnasium and athletic facilities.
"There's no fluff here," said Ald. Patrick O'Connor (40th), who advanced the measure to use local Tax Increment Finance funds for what he called "rehab for a couple parts of the building."
According to Ald. Edward Burke (14th), chairman of the Finance Committee, which approved the funding, it will go to repair the gym floor and bleachers, as well as a fitness center and the girls locker room.
"They haven't been repaired in ages" and are "falling apart," O'Connor said. "We're trying to help them get up to speed."
The city funds will pay $2.6 million for a project estimated at $3 million, with O'Connor saying the Board of Education will pay the rest.
O'Connor cited the recent decision to halt the transfer of Noble Academy to Uptown as the community moves to bolster its existing neighborhood high schools.
Ald. Tom Tunney (44th), who joined in opposition to the Noble move, saluted "the work being done at Amundsen both constructionwise and studentwise."
The measure now heads to the full City Council for final approval on Wednesday.
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