For many years, Terri Cox, VP of Brokerage at Matanky Realty Group, has actively committed herself to the development of the Back-of-the Yards community in Chicago, IL. Terri currently serves as a Commissioner for the SSA #10 in the Back of the Yards Community. You may also have seen her playing the part of Mrs. Claus during the Back of the Yards Christmas festival.
When the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council (BYNC) decided to find a location to develop into office space and a community center to serve the community better, the neighborhood leaders engaged Matanky Realty Group as a buyer representative to help them select the perfect location.
As it happened, a former carpet, furniture, and bedding retail store located at 4555 S Ashland, Chicago, IL longed to be repurposed to breathe new life into the neighborhood. This 8,000 SF retail space built in 1907 with a loading dock, 7 parking spaces, and 109 linear feet of frontage on 46th St seemed the perfect spot for the Back of the Yards’ purpose. The location sees 22,800 vehicles per day, and it had new HVAC and power security shutters installed.
Located in a part of town undergoing multi-million-dollar investments, Ms. Cox, representing BYNC through Matanky Realty Group, brokered the sale of this property for the Back of the Yards. The space is currently being renovated to accommodate the organization’s offices and their upcoming community center and meeting space.
About Back of the Yards
Now part of New City along with its neighbor Canaryville, the Union Stock Yard – at the time the largest stockyard in the country – started in 1865 and remained as such until the 1950s. During the 1950s, the area was considered a slum. However, in the 1960s, skilled tradesmen found the opportunity to build and develop the area. The Union Stock Yard officially closed in 1971, and the area has undergone much economic and real estate development over the past few decades. Today, the area remains a growing and ever developing area in Chicago with excellent social and political leadership and a community that cares.