Mayor Brandon Johnson and city leaders came together with the Auburn Gresham community to celebrate the opening of a new affordable housing development on 79th Street. This $47 million project, known as Auburn Gresham Apartments, aims to provide reasonably priced living options for Chicago's South Side residents, as detailed in an official announcement.
"The investments we are seeing today on the South Side will ensure that Chicago continues to grow and thrive, not just today, but for generations to come," Mayor Johnson explained in a statement. The initiative intends to not only draw in residents but also to boost economic opportunities by attracting businesses and jobs, primarily focusing on the South and West sides of Chicago. The collaboration between the minority-owned Imagine Group and Evergreen Real Estate Group has produced two distinct structures on what was once City-owned land. They have managed to successfully combine residential spaces with commercial opportunities in a way that aims to refresh the community's dynamics.
At 757 W. 79th St., a five-story building offers 30 apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms and features both parking facilities and commercial space, set to house the KLEO Community Center and The Park Supper Club. Its counterpart at 838 W. 79th St. includes an additional 28 apartments, with equal parking provisions and an even larger commercial space, soon to be the home of West African food provider AYO Foods. Both buildings are uniquely designed to cater to households earning 60% of the Area Median Income, with monthly rent estimates between $995 and $1,600.
The inception of the project can be traced back to a 2020 Department of Planning and Development (DPD) Request for Proposals (RFP) that aimed to revitalize the 79th Street commercial corridor. "This is tremendous reactivation of vacant land that’s going to revitalize the 79th Street corridor and support other neighborhood investments that are essential to area needs," remarked Commissioner Ciere Boatright, according to the city's press release. The project design and execution involved firms like Ross Barney Architects, Nia Architects, and the GMA Construction Group. Funding was a concerted effort by different city departments, drawing from an amalgamation of Tax Increment Financing, Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity, Chicago Recovery Plan funding, and a land write-down.
