NEIU has begun construction on its new Education Building, bringing major changes for students. For several months, the construction project has been a topic of the university. This project was first publicly announced to be in the works in 2014, but on February 18th, NEIU sent out an email with the timeline of the construction in a Targeted Announcement.
According to the email, until summer of 2027, portions of Parking Lot J, the natural area between the WTTW Building and the Physical Education Complex (PE Complex) as well as the path linking the PE Complex to the rest of the campus.
This path is a common route for many commuter students who take the 92 Foster bus. The pathway leads from the Student Union to the Central Park bus stop, which is the only one within the area that has shelter from the elements. Both the commuter students and Nest residents who use the 92 Foster bus have to take a different route that goes around the fencing by the Child Care Center.
In the area around campus, the neighbors are kept informed about both Northeastern Illinois University and North Park University information through the Hollywood-Northpark Community Association (HNPCA). The HNPCA Chair Andrew Johnson was asked about the community’s viewpoint. “Lots of people like to play with their kids over there and run around, lots of people appreciate the natural beauty of the area right around the Solitary Oak. And so, there’s some well- intentioned concern for that space.” Johnson continued, “I’m sure there are some neighbors who are, understandably, concerned about construction and noise, the entering and exiting of trucks. but I don’t think that’s as big a concern as people’s love for that green space, and they’re concerned about the future of that green space.”
Despite those concerns, Johnson said, “That’s balanced with the understanding that the success of the universities is good, not only for students and the universities and institutions, but also, I argue, good for the neighborhood enough that a new academic building is helpful in the university’s stabilization, then that’s a good thing.” According to a Targeted Announcement sent on March 27th, the natural areas being conserved would be the Solitary Oak and the Swamp Oak Savanna area. In the same email, NEIU also stated that new trees and more native plant life will be planted once construction is complete enough for them to stay healthy.
