Promoting Affordability: Feasibility Study of
Mixed Income Housing for the South Loop
1997
The recent redevelopment of Chicago’s South Loop has encouraged
development of new luxury housing, while much of the existing affordable
housing has been demolished or gentrified. Current information indicates
that the area will continue to gentrify, displacing lower and moderate
income residents. The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) saw a unique
opportunity to develop affordable housing in the South Loop by acquiring
the vacant Police Headquarters building at 11th and State Streets. CCH
and several other organizations that belong to the South Loop Community
Development Advisory Committee approached the City Design Center for assistance
in assessing the feasibility of adaptive reuse of the building for affordable
housing. Working closely with these organizations, the City Design Center
developed two schemes that combine mixed-income housing and commercial
space, capitalize on the site’s high accessibility to automobiles
and public transit, and fit with the architectural character of the neighborhood.
The retail businesses in the building could provide business training
and employment opportunities for the residents.
The schematic designs and financial proforma are being used in CCH’s
negotiations with the City of Chicago and potential developers of the
project. “The Police Head-quarters represents an opportunity for
the City to proactively plan for mixed income housing in the South Loop
Neighborhood, and this property can serve an important public good,”
said Matt McDermitt of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. “The
City Design Center was instrumental in helping us create a workable vision
for the project, and to describe that vision in terms of drawings and
financial proformas. Their work has been key to us in both our discussions
with the City and our talks with potential developers.”
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Map of Chicago with project location
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City Design Center Affiliated Faculty and Staff
Tom Forman, Associate Director, City Design Center and Adjunct Assistant
Professor,
School of Architecture
Andrew Gaspard, Project Coordinator, City Design Center
Collaborating Organizations
Central City Housing Ventures
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Chicago Rehab Network
Interfaith Housing Development Corporation
Metropolitan Housing Development Corporation
Statewide Housing Action Coalition
Funding
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
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