Cooking school planned for S. Shore center $5 mil. would pay for state-of-art kitchen, but some aren't sold

A state-of-the art cooking school would be installed at the SouthShore Cultural Center under a plan advanced by a Chicago ParkDistrict committee on Wednesday.

"The plan is to make culinary arts part of culture," said WilliamReynolds, provost of Washburne Culinary Institute.

Under the deal, endorsed by the Administration Committee, theCulinary Institute would contribute $5 million to build a fancykitchen and for structural repairs, in return for a 20-year leasewith two five-year renewal options, Reynolds said.

The school would operate a first-floor restaurant that would beopen to the public and offer classes to the community even after itmoves to its new home on …