First phase of future Saint Anthony Hospital site cleanup is complete

Chicago Southwest Development Corporation (CSDC) has completed the first phase of the environmental cleanup for the future home of Saint Anthony Hospital, which will be located on the Focal Point Community Campus on Chicago’s southwest side.

The first stage in the cleanup included the removal of old concrete and soil, exposing buried foundations from previous structures, sub grading areas for future paving and drainage, and installing clean soil and erosion control systems.

According to CSDC, nearly 44,000 tons of toxic soil have been safely removed from the land after several rounds of testing determined what contamination existed. Additionally, two abandoned underground storage tanks were discovered. These tanks were properly removed under the supervision of a health inspector.

“After over a decade of challenges and obstacles, our promise that we will not only cleanup this land, but revitalize this community and begin construction, is being fulfilled,” CSDC President and CEO Guy A. Medaglia says. “We look forward to providing much needed green space and an economic boost to the Southwest Side.”

The land remediation was performed by Tecnica Environmental Services and was funded by CSDC through capital funds and federal grants awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Chicago’s southwest side is known for its industrial presence, but disinvestment in the community has left behind abandoned and contaminated facilities and properties that affect the community and deter future growth and investment. These abandoned toxic properties and lack of green space in the area negatively impact air quality for the residents.

Phase Two of the cleanup will begin once CSDC secures an approved Remedial Action Plan from the Illinois EPA, which is anticipated to by the summer of 2026.

Saint Anthony Hospital will anchor the Focal Point Community Campus, a mixed-use development that will provide greater access and opportunity for quality health care, wellness, green space and retail, CSDC says.

“Our hospital has been a cornerstone in this community for over a century and as we continue this monumental project, Saint Anthony’s new home will deliver enhanced facilities and modern amenities that benefit our patients, staff, and neighbors,” says Dorval R. Carter Jr., president and CEO of Saint Anthony Hospital. “We see the appropriate steps being taken to build on a solid foundation and we appreciate the hard work and dedication the CSDC team has shown.”