Plan Commission approves DePaul's plan for athletic facility

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The Chicago Plan Commission approved a proposal Thursday by DePaul University to build a $42 million basketball practice facility in the heart of its Lincoln Park campus, a controversial plan that will require demolishing a row of century-old residential buildings.

University officials told commission members DePaul’s lack of modern practice courts makes it hard to compete for athletic talent with schools in the Big East Conference, decreasing DePaul’s national visibility and potential to attract other students.

“We are getting turned down because of our lack of facilities,” said DePaul University Athletic Director DeWayne Peevy. When Peevy joined DePaul five years ago, “we were last in the Big East Conference in almost every category,” he sa