The former McCorkle Elementary School site at 4417 S. State St. in Chicago’s Grand Boulevard neighborhood is the proposed location for a $126 million development, which would house the future Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum as part of a broader community and technology center.
Brian Gorman, president of the board for the Technology Renewable Energy Command Center Global Campus for Youth & Families and co-founder of the hip-hop museum, said that plans include a mutual aid community center, sports and tech hub, workforce center, and a 111-room hotel. According to Gorman, $89 million in private funding has already been secured for the project. The remaining funds are expected to come from loans, tax increment financing, and community development grants.
Gorman stated that applications have been filed with both the Department of Zoning and the Department of Planning and Development. The planning department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum closed its previous location in December after nearly five years when its building was sold due to health reasons affecting its owner. While awaiting construction of their new permanent home in Bronzeville, curators plan to hold pop-up events and collaborations across Chicago.
The first phase of construction will include building the museum itself along with a hotel, community and workforce centers, sports facilities such as basketball and volleyball courts, and a tech hub. A second phase would add an automated parking garage with 393 spaces, electric vehicle charging stations, microgrid systems featuring rooftop solar panels and wind installations, as well as a commercial solar workforce training site.
DeJuan Kea serves on boards for both the center and hip-hop museum. He estimates that construction could generate between 150-200 jobs while creating 63 permanent positions on-site—not including additional vendor opportunities related to hotel operations. Kea is also working with Hilton Hotels to potentially open a Home2 Suites at this location.
“We’ve been working on the TRECC concept since 2021. We saw what was missing in some of the communities for sort of a modern community center, other elements that can complement it beyond just basic community center needs. Things that can support small businesses, entrepreneurs, artists and whole host of other folks,” said Kea.
Board member Senyo Ador oversees sustainability aspects for the project. Ador is co-founder of Sesenergi Eco Solutions Enterprise—a clean energy company running solar cohort programs in North Lawndale—and he sees this workforce center as an entry point into careers within the solar industry.
Ador explained how features like an automated parking system could provide hands-on training opportunities: “At a time when federal resources are dwindling, a project like the Technology Renewable Energy Command Center Global Campus for Youth & Families could inspire a more ‘artful’ exploration of economic opportunity and development.”
He added that their approach offers “a different way” toward economic sustainability by training workers on emerging technologies related to green infrastructure.
Barring delays from city approvals or other obstacles during permitting processes—which have already begun—the team expects completion within approximately 18 months once started.
“If everything goes according to plan, we’re looking at late 2027 to early 2028,” said Gorman.
This initiative joins other efforts underway aimed at revitalizing Bronzeville’s State Street corridor alongside ongoing large-scale developments nearby.
