New Tech Center for Chicago Startups; LifeStorage Expands Portfolio

By Veronica Grecu, Associate Editor

The Chicago Tribune reports that a new center for technology start-ups could be opened next year by local business leader, venture capitalist and philanthropist J.B. Pritzker, who has teamed up with various investors such as Troy Henikoff of Excelerate Labs, Kevin Willer of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center and Matt Moog of Viewpoints Network.

Though it doesn’t have a name yet or an exact location, the project already involves more than 100 specialists and advisors and will act as a model and incubator for Chicago’s emerging tech businesses. According to Kevin Willer, the nonprofit tech center will be around 50,000 square feet and it will be located centrally so that it can be easily accessed by visitors and business owners seeking assistance.

In other news, Chicago self-storage provider Life Storage expanded its property portfolio by purchasing a building located at 333 W. Ohio Street, in the River North area. According to the press release issued last week, the seven-story facility will be renovated and repurposed so that it meets the seasonal and shot-term storage needs of area residents and business owners. The renovation will begin later this month, and the work is scheduled to be complete in early March. Amenities include generous conference space, WiFi, indoor loading, truck doors, 30 covered parking spaces for rent and a Starbucks coffee shop.