KEY PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS:

• Community-Driven Design: Extensive engagement led to reimagining one dense site into two scaled projects that reflect Auburn Gresham’s character and priorities.

• Revitalization Milestone: First new development on the 79th Street corridor in 10 years, positioned to catalyze further investment near the 79th/Halsted intersection and new Metra station.

• Two-Site Development:

• 757 W. 79th: Five stories, 30 apartments, 3,300 SF retail (KLEO Community Center, The Park Supper Club).

• 838 W. 79th: Three stories, 28 apartments, 5,200 SF retail (AYO Foods), rooftop deck with skyline views.

• Affordable Housing: 58 total apartments priced for households earning ≤60% AMI, with rents ranging from $995 (1-bedroom) to $1,600 (3-bedroom).

• Equity & Investment: $46M in public funding support, exceeded City equity goals (49% MBE, 9% WBE), and partnered with Revolution Workshop to train and employ local residents in construction.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Auburn Gresham Apartments were developed in a joint venture between Evergreen—a leader in the development, construction, and management of both affordable and market-rate multifamily properties—and minority-owned developer Imagine, in collaboration with KLEO Enterprises. The project was designed by Ross Barney Architects and minority-owned Nia Architects, and GMA Construction Group served as the General Contractor. The project is the result of a 2020 Department of Planning and Development (DPD) Request for Proposals (RFP) to revitalize former City-owned land along the 79th Street commercial corridor with a vibrant mix of new uses.

This critical project was the first new development on the 79th Street corridor in 10 years and serves to catalyze all future development within this emerging retail corridor. The project reflects the current and future context provided by 79th Street, encompassing the 79th and Halsted intersection and the new Metra Station, both within a few minutes-walk to the east. The selection of this site for development marked a turning point for the Auburn Gresham Community.

“Auburn Gresham, like many neighborhoods on Chicago’s South and West sides, has faced decades of disinvestment. Our community is resilient, and we never stop fighting for the resources, the investment and the opportunities that we know that we deserve.”

Ald. David Moore (17th Ward)

Prior to design and construction, community engagement efforts reiterated key recommendations previously explored during the course of over 15 years of neighborhood planning efforts which were best described as “urgent.” The desire to expand commercial uses along 79th Street remained a priority goal and objective in this community with active uses along the corridor such as neighborhood retail, professional services, sit-down dining options, expanded pharmacy and ancillary uses that take advantage of this area as a Transit-Oriented Development area.

After the development team was awarded the project, an extensive community involvement process including roundtable meetings was completed to ensure the project reflected the vision of the community.

“We went to our first roundtable meetings, and the community said no. We really scaled the building down on this site so that the building … is more in keeping with the scale of this community.”

David Block, Evergreen

Realizing the community was at the center of this initiative, the design team proposed a new strategy of community engagement which involved a complete halt of the design and an overhaul on the way the project was imagined. Various sessions for listening, learning, reflecting, and active engagement with the community were scheduled in order to distill their ideas and aspirations for the 79th street corridor.

The original proposal consisted of 60 residential units ranging from one to three-bedroom apartments and included retail opportunities at street level in hopes of spurring development along a historically active but currently uninhabited retail corridor.

The process began with two listening sessions located at various public venues within the neighborhood: a local high school and a field house. At these two sessions, residents were asked to perform various mapping exercises that included pinpointing where the resident lived, worked, shopped, or played and another exercise involving members of the community to fill in the blank for, “I want Auburn Gresham to…”. These simple exercises allowed the design team to review not only the wants of the community but also the gaps that currently exist within the neighborhood.

As the city saw the success of the multiple site option, they allowed the design team to gain another site along the corridor. This multi-site initiative was what finally spurred community acceptance and excitement for the project.

What was once 60 units on one site was re-imagined onto two sites along the 79th street corridor. The act of de-densifying the original proposal met the concerns that the community voiced during the outreach sessions. The revised design included a five-story structure at 757 W. 79th St. with 30 one- to three-bedroom apartments, 14 parking spaces and 3,300 square feet of commercial space occupied by KLEO Community Center and The Park Supper Club. A three-story building is located at 838 W. 79th St. with 28 one- to three-bedroom apartments, 28 parking spots and 5,200 square feet of commercial space occupied by West African food purveyor AYO Foods. The additional site, which is two blocks away, includes a rooftop deck that welcomes views of the Chicago skyline, something prominent in north side neighborhoods, but not usually found on the south side.

All homes feature plank flooring, window treatments, island kitchens with Energy Star appliances, generous closet space, modern baths and individually controlled HVAC. Inspired by the surrounding commercial district, the buildings incorporate community-preferred design elements such as colored brick, stone-like cement board, and glass storefronts.

The project included an Affirmative Action Program designated to promote equal opportunity in every aspect of procurement of goods and services. As part of this program, GMA exceeded the City’s minimum participation in contract expenditures of 26% for MBEs and six percent for WBEs with 49% MBE participation and 9% WBE participation. GMA leveraged its extensive pool of proven subcontractors to achieve these results.

GMA partnered with Revolution Workshop, a job training and placement organization that works with individuals from underserved communities to gain training and employment in the construction industry. Trainees toured the jobsite throughout construction and had the opportunity to speak with GMA team members about careers in the construction industry.

GMA also participated in and donated to local community events such as the Leo High School Back to School Drive. In 2023, GMA donated more than 1,000 backpacks with school supplies during the school’s annual event. In 2024, GMA provided students with ties and other school supplies.

The Chicago Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and the Department of Housing (DOH) supported the project with $18 million in Tax Increment Financing, $21 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity, $7.3 million in Chicago Recovery Plan funding, and a land write-down of approximately $180,000.

The rent is priced for households earning at or below 60% the area median income. A one-bedroom apartment rents for $995 a month, a two-bedroom unit is $1,195 a month, and a three-bedroom unit is $1,600.