Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Monday announced the development of a huge cargo center on the northeast edge of O’Hare International Airport, a facility he said would create thousands of jobs.
In a press conference with Aeroterm LLC, the mayor said an agreement has been reached on a deal in which it will develop a $200 million cargo facility on 65 acres area near Johnson Road and Patton Drive, not too far from a recently opened new runway.
The city will chip in $62 million in airport funds for the project — apparently for infrastructure. Aeroterm, which already operates some cargo facilities at the airport, will put up $130 million.
Mr. Emanuel said the project would create 1,200 construction jobs and 1,200 permanent, on-site cargo jobs that would spur another 10,000 related positions throughout the Chicago area.
The first building of the project, a 429,000 square foot structure, is scheduled to open in December 2013, the city says. Aeroterm will act as the property manager, leasing it out to customers.
