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Conservation Groups Push Back on Proposed South Side Quantum Campus Ahead of Vote
A rendering of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park proposed for the Southeast Side. (Credit: Lamar Johnson Collaborative)
The push to approve a quantum computing campus at the former U.S. Steel South Works site has been moving at quantum speed, opponents say, and they want the Chicago Plan Commission to pump the brakes on the process to allow for additional community input.
On Monday, conservation organizations Bird Friendly Chicago and Friends of the Parks joined the chorus calling for the Plan Commission to vote “no” on rezoning the 440-acre South Chicago site, a matter the commission is set to consider Thursday.
“Any proposal involving our lakefront and ecologically rich open spaces requires the highest level of scrutiny,” Friends of the Parks said in an action alert email.
South Works is often cited as the last remaining significant development opportunity on Chicago’s Lake Michigan shoreline, and a number of uses have been proposed and abandoned over the years. The quantum computing “innovation hub” — Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park — was announced in July by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, with California-based PsiQuantum on board as the initial tenant.
“We intend to drive innovation on a history-altering scale and provide unprecedented economic opportunity for the people of this great city and state,” Pritzker said at the time.
Activities associated with the manufacturing and operating of semiconductors would be permitted under the zoning being considered by the Plan Commission. The quantum campus would occupy 128 of the 440 acres, with the rest under development by Related Midwest.
The site, while listed as vacant, is actually a hot spot for wildlife, particularly birds — some 256 species have been observed — and as such attracts hundreds of birders, according to Bird Friendly Chicago, a coalition that includes Chicago Bird Alliance, Chicago Ornithological Society, Chicago Bird Collision Monitors and Feminist Bird Club.
Given the parcel’s location on the lakefront, along a major migratory flyway, the group is requesting the Plan Commission require the highest level of bird protection in any building constructed on the site.
“Light and windows can be expected to cause significant bird mortality ... on a scale like that of the McCormick Place Convention Center,” Bird Friendly Chicago said, referencing Lakeside Center’s well-documented history of bird collisions, including a mass casualty event in 2023.
The current proposal being considered by the Plan Commission includes “basic” bird protections, not the “enhanced” level Bird Friendly Chicago is requesting.
Two Chicago Park District parks — Steelworkers Park and Park 566 — are also part of the South Works site, raising questions of public access, the groups said.
The area is critical to Friends of the Parks’ Last Four Miles plan to extend Chicago’s lakefront trail system further south, and access to existing parks needs “to be addressed before the project gets another green light,” Friends of the Parks Interim Executive Director Gin Kilgore said in an email.
Additional concerns about the proposed planned development include: quantum computing’s drain on the energy grid; the extremely cold temperatures needed to cool quantum computers, and how that will be achieved; possible contaminants flowing into Lake Michigan and the river system; and displacement of residents if the campus drives gentrification.
Opponents have also pointed out language in the zoning application that references approved uses including “outdoor storage of raw materials as a principal use” and “coke and coal bulk material uses.”
These functions “are wholly incompatible for a site located next to critical natural areas and waterways,” Bird Friendly Chicago said.
“We understand the desire to develop the privately held portions of this area as a benefit to the surrounding community, city and state,” the group said. “Given the visibility of this project, this development should adhere to our best values as Chicagoans, with nature and industry as partners instead of adversaries.”
In response to these environmental concerns, a spokesperson for Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park told WTTW News: “There are virtually zero emissions from quantum computing, and the campus’ cryogenic cooling facilities will have essentially zero emissions while using 100% carbon free electricity.”
As for the issue of access to parks and the lakefront, the spokesperson said the quantum campus would not only protect it “but in fact expand and improve it,” a statement echoed by Related Midwest.
Connectivity to Steelworkers Park, Park 566 and the lakefront will be improved, according to a spokesperson for Related Midwest.
“Additionally, we are creating a new public walking path along the Calumet River and South Slip, as well as a park that wraps both sides of the North Slip, including preserving the site’s historic ore walls,” the spokesperson said.
As for bird-friendly design, Related Midwest said it has created a proactive plan to mitigate building collisions.
“Our development team is committed to supporting more than 100 acres of parkland with thoughtful consideration to native plantings and materials that are supportive of migratory birds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators,” said the Related Midwest spokesperson. “All buildings will embrace bird-safe technology and will be designed to deter collisions.”
The Chicago Plan Commission will meet Thursday, at 10 a.m., at Harold Washington College, 30 E. Lake St., Room HW2103.
The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park team, along with Related Midwest, is planning to host a community meeting Dec. 10, the fourth since August. The time and location are still TBD, but materials from previous meetings can be accessed online.
“This community engagement process is positively shaping the plans being presented (Thursday), with more iterations to come as future development plans progress,” said the Related Midwest spokesperson.
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
