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In an agreement with the Chicago Transit Authority, Apple will be supplying $4 million to help fix up a run down triangle of land near their future Halsted Street store. While Apple has given money to areas where they had stores before, this will be the largest to date, as most of the previous ones were simply for fixing sidewalks and other minor tasks. This one will involve constructing a subway entrance building and bus turnaround driveway in order to help make the store more accessible and prominent. Part of the ordinance notes, “Apple will pay all costs of the exterior, interior, and platform refurbishment and desires that all work at these locations be completed not later than September 30, 2010.” This means that the Apple Store may open in late fall 2010.

The signing of this agreement took place on August 19th and entails some interesting details. Since Apple has agreed to pay for the improvements, the CTA will leave the bus turnaround to Apple for 10 years at no cost and will also give Apple the first rights of refusal for naming the station as the advertisements in that station. As you can see in the image, the area of land that Apple will be helping out with will be very important to their store (the red area). However, I’m sure this will also help the public in general, which will be nice for those who live there.