Initial funding has been approved for the commercial redevelopment of 3930 W Roosevelt Road in Lawndale. The redeveloped structure near the intersection with S Pulaski Road will serve as the new home for neighborhood organization BLK + BRWN Market. The project is being designed by local architecture firm Latent Design.
Site context map of 3930 W Roosevelt Road via Google Maps
Current view of 3930 W Roosevelt Road via Google Maps
BLK + BRWN Market is a partnership between local Christine Griffith, who has worked in sales and marketing, and Chicago retailers in order to create a space for new brands to grow. Their goal is to offer flexible and affordable memberships for creative Black and Brown professionals to network, test, operate, and develop their businesses.
Rendering of 3930 W Roosevelt Road by Latent Design
The building currently sits vacant after being home to a party and home supplies company. Having a single front door and three small windows, the structure had most of its original facade filled in over the years. However the design calls for three new arched windows and doors on the ground floor as well as five new windows on the upper story.
Floor plans of 3930 W Roosevelt Road by Latent Design
With a new brick exterior, the project will include a two-story expansion into the adjacent vacant lot with a similar design aesthetic. Inside on the first floor will be a small retail space, members lounge, cafe, patio, beauty studio, and five vehicle spaces off of the alley. The second floor will include a content studio, private offices, and coworking areas.
Rendering of 3930 W Roosevelt Road by Latent Design
Members will also be able to utilize a shared rooftop deck with a bar. The inside will utilize many of the existing industrial elements and incorporate additional brick, metal mesh, and dark wood. The project was granted $1.5 million in the form of a Community Development Grant, however at the moment no construction timeline has been announced.
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
gorgeous!!
For someone from Europe this sounds crazy. Building for Black and Brown businesses.. what is this? You’d not imagine something like this in London or Berlin with just as diverse population. Inclusion and equality is the path forward not this separation into categories once again.. 🤦🏻♂️ I can only imagine what Indian or Polish or Korean small business owners in Chicago feel looking at this, listening to mayor etc, as if they don’t exist. Why no one sees the issue here? Other than that it’s a nice redevelopment project .
Only 13% of London is black. Chicago is 33% black with a huge population that was economically left behind in the Jim Crow era onward. These businesses usually do not exclude any race but rather make an extra effort to include black and brown businesses in neighborhoods where they are concentrated. There aren’t many resources for them there and they are very far from and disconnected from the rest of the city. Asians do this too. There is an Asian food hall opening up in uptown soon, I doubt you’ll see a Ukrainian running a food stall there.
If you are being genuine. There are tons of ethnic business/wellness hubs. If you come to Chicago you will see many polish/Balkan/Chinese/Korean/Indian/Ukrainian wellness, job center, immigration hubs like this one. It’s not exclusive to anyone as well.
It seems crazy because it is….
…As was slavery and Jim Crow.
Lawsuit in 3…2…1…
For making a space for Black and Brown creators in a predominately Black and Brown neighborhood. Sure, E.E., sure.
Over what? This is literally in Lawndale