Expansion Plans for Washington Park Tennis Village
Kamau Murray, a tennis coach and developer, aims to extend his South Side “tennis village” by adding a hotel and an apartment complex in Washington Park.
The founder and president of the XS Tennis and Education Foundation has submitted a rezoning application for the property located at 5301-25 S. State St., seeking to transform it into a “residential business planned development.”
If the rezoning is approved, Murray, through XS Tennis and his Center Court Development LLC, intends to construct a 51-unit apartment building featuring 28 one-bedroom and 23 two-bedroom units, alongside a 125-room hotel, as detailed in the application.
This proposed five-story apartment building will include indoor pickleball courts, a café, and 24 off-street parking spaces, while the hotel is set to incorporate a 2,040-square-foot retail shop and 48 parking spots, according to project plans.
Murray revealed that Center Court Development acquired the site for the hotel and housing project in 2021; however, county records indicate the transfer to Center Court occurred in March 2024. The rezoning proposal was presented to the City Council on May 21, pending approvals from multiple city entities.
In 2018, Murray opened the $9.8 million XS Tennis facility, built on land that was part of the now-demolished Robert Taylor Homes public housing complex, which was historically significant until its razing in 2007. This latest development is part of Murray’s broader vision to enhance the XS Tennis campus.
The local firm Seek Design + Architecture completed a master plan for the campus in 2023, which encompasses the proposed hotel, apartment units, and plans for a prominent restaurant and affordable housing options, including a new six-flat building and townhomes.
