Cook County Awards $250,000 to Hazel Crest for Phase II of Creative Arts Center
Hazel Crest, IL – The Village of Hazel Crest and the Southland Development Authority (SDA) have received a $250,000 grant under the Cook County Arts initiative to launch Phase II of the Hazel Crest Creative Arts Center.
The center is located in the Hazel Crest Proper neighborhood near the Metra station. It is a strategic reuse of a long-vacant retail space along the historic Dixie Highway. For context, this was a corridor that helped put the village on the map over a century ago. The new grant will fund life safety and structural improvements that build on Phase I renovations completed in June 2025.
“Phase I addressed vital exterior work to make it ready for placemaking and an outdoor event space,” said Bo Kemp, SDA CEO and President. “Phase II is more about interior and life safety improvements. These are the less visible but essential components like a new roof, HVAC, and utilities. So the space is actually safe and ready to occupy. Once that’s complete, it becomes a four-season asset where the community can host cultural events year round.”
The SDA will remain closely involved throughout the process. “We’ll be helping the Village through a collaboration in executing those Phase II improvements,” Greifer said.
All of these efforts equate to one big push for “Hazel Crest Proper,” the original village core. Hazel Crest Proper grew around the Illinois Central Railroad in the late 1800s. Unfortunately, the Hazel Crest Proper neighborhood has experienced a degree of disinvestment in recent decades. But that’s changing.
“This isn’t just about revitalizing one building,” SDA Director of Municipal Economic Development Nicholas Greifer said. “It’s part of a larger arts district. The Village overwhelmingly passed a referendum to pursue that vision. That community backing helped create the impetus to go after more grants.”
Greifer called the project rare for a suburban community. “There are very few places in the South Suburbs where people can create and enjoy art. In most suburbs, this kind of center simply doesn’t exist.”
“Since we started telling the story of the arts district, we've had businesses reaching out wanting to get in before it fully blossoms,” said Assistant Village Manager LaVern Murphy. “We’re in talks with a music school, a performance theater group, and even a Black History Museum, all looking at Hazel Crest Proper as their next home.”
The SDA located the Cook County funding opportunity and authored the grant proposal. “We're essentially a force multiplier for the Village’s staff,” said Greifer. “They’re busy running police, fire, zoning, in addition to community development. We’re adding to their capacity by finding and implementing opportunities like this.”
About the Southland Development Authority (SDA)
The Southland Development Authority is a nonprofit business organization launched in 2019 by business, civic, and political leaders from around the Southland who recognize the potential of the region’s people, businesses, and real estate. Our mission is to bring the resources and capacity needed to achieve transformative, inclusive economic growth for the south suburbs with a focus on investments in the Southland’s communities, industry, housing, and workforce.
