ChiArts High School To Take Over Old Malcolm X College Building

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two schools in Chicago will have new homes, thanks to a $251 million renovation and a little shuffling.

As WBBM Newsradio's David Roe reports, back in February, Mayor Emanuel announced plans for a new, state-of-the-art home for the City College system's Malcolm X College, on the parking lot of the current building at 1901 W. Van Buren St.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's David Roe reports

Emanuel said the college will focus on careers in the health care field, where some 84,000 jobs are expected to be available in the next decade.

But as to what would happen to the old building, Emanuel said at the time that the announcement on that subject would have to wait for another day.

That day was Monday. Emanuel announced that another Chicago school, the Chicago School for the Arts or ChiArts, will open in the building.

The Emanuel administration says the new move will mean considerably more space, and expansion for many of the school's fine arts programs.

ChiArts is currently located at 521 E. 35th St. in the Bronzeville neighborhood. The charter school is the first public high school focusing on the arts.

In:
• David Roe