Despite community concern, migrants could begin moving into vacant Woodlawn school Monday
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Plans are moving full speed ahead to open a migrant shelter in what was an abandoned school in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood, and after a community meeting Saturday afternoon, neighbors have a better idea of a timeline for the shelter to open. The city says it is ready to move in migrants as soon as Monday.
The school-turned-shelter, once Wadsworth Elementary School and later the University of Chicago Charter School, is ready for migrants.
Security personnel at the vacant school said the city does plan to open the shelter on Monday. A number of maintenance crews showed up at the building Monday morning.
But neighbors say they feel the plan was rushed with little community input.
"We were hearing them, but they wasn't hearing us," said one neighbor.
At Saturday's session at Hyde Park Academy High School, city leaders ironed out more details. To start, 250 migrants will move into the shelter. It will remain a shelter for two years or less. Other people experiencing homelessness also could be housed at the shelter.
Some people opposing the shelter said they're not buying the city's claims the shelter will be open for only two years or less.
Some also believe Woodlawn just isn't the right location.
"I'm just disappointed in how the situation was handled all around because they very definitely could've put them in Pilsen or Little Village, and it would've been much more well received," said Justin Cosby.
"We want it to be a safe, cultural experience, as well as a healthy transition with resources; and there's nothing in this area for them to benefit from, outside of what the city's going to put in that building," neighbor Carol Waitse said.
The city plans on bringing in more resources to keep the migrant population safe, including 24-hour security, contracted security at each door, and Chicago Police Department monitoring of the perimeter.
The operation, the city says, has a cost of $5.5 million from FEMA and $20 million from the state. They are also asking for $50 million more from FEMA in 2023. It adds up to a would-be total of at least $75.5 million.
"You kind of have to be a little bit gullible to belive that they're actually going to do their job and serve the migrant communities when they're not even serving the current community that is here," said Cosby.
The city has promised the community weekly and monthly updates on operations as they begin in the newsroom.