A permit has been issued to allow construction of a two-story, six-unit residential building at 1141 South Keeler Avenue in the North Lawndale neighborhood. An application was filed for the homes on October 18 of last year, and permission came through on July 16 with a reported cost of an even $1,000,000.
Site context of 1141 South Keeler (4155 West Grenshaw) via Google Maps
Details are scant on what’s to come. The permit does not mention a basement, nor does it address outdoor spaces including decks, porches, or terraces. There will be five surface parking spaces at the back of the property, including one ADA-compliant space, all accessible from the alley. Metal and wood fences will enclose the property.
Looking north through the vacant lot from the alley, via Google Street View
As the listed property owner’s address is noted as 4155 West Grenshaw Street, it is likely the new construction will be designated the same. The site is currently a vacant double lot on the southeast corner of Keeler and Grenshaw, so it will not require a demolition permit. Senga Architects is named as the architect of record, with AKS1 In Transport Inc shown as the general contractor.
Nearby bus stops, via Google Maps
Nearby train access, via Google Maps
1141 South Keeler lies one block north of CTA service via Route 12 buses at Roosevelt Road, where there is also an e-bike-only Divvy rack. For north-south service, Route 53 buses make stops a quarter-mile east along Pulaski Road. That bus can be used to connect with the Pulaski Blue Line train less than a mile to the north at the Eisenhower Expressway. To the south, the Pulaski Pink Line is about a mile away.
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This article cannot be correct. 12 units constructed for $1MM? It’s impossible to construct a unit for $83K. If this is correct, let the government know (where 10 X the price is closer to the average) ASAP.
This is a six-unit building.
Even $1 million for 6 units is incredible. $167,000 per unit.
I understand, no demolition cost, cheaper land costs and not having all the red tape of trying to acquire and sell tax credits and everything else that goes into building high density affordable housing which isn’t all that affordable. Maybe the city needs to focus on affordable housing like this, outside of trendy areas. Maybe it’s happening and we don’t read about it that much
More recent affordable projects haven’t been in the most trendy of neighborhoods. Other than the affordability requirements and the jolt of energy to redevelop LaSalle St. with the office conversions, many of the big, expensive “affordable” projects have been in neighborhoods far from trendy.
Most of the issues with the Invest South/West developments are that they are so costly because they are more than just housing. Maybe they can be cheaper by reducing the program, but the city still has a list of requirements when being funded by public dollars. Perhaps that factor should also be considered. Chicago, as a developer, has certainly not been the biggest bang for our bucks.
As a counter to the negative press regarding price, the projects that have been done have been significant moral boosts and have already created some new local landmarks. First, as an initial investment, the areas will start to trend up. I may be completely wrong, but I believe they will have a butterfly effect on future upward mobility. The consistent flow of infill on empty lots is vital, and as seen in some neighborhoods with completed projects, the infill is happening.
I agree . I see development in places like East Garfield Park, Lawndale, Washington Park, North Kenwood, etc. – I think city investment in these areas has encouraged other private development. My comment about this 6 flat at 1141 S Keeler, is that I assume this development has no city funding. Maybe I’m wrong. I’m not knocking the city’s affordable housing program . I think it has accomplished a lot. But I wish there were more efforts to encourage development of smaller buildings , especially south and west, without a lot of requirements that drive up costs.
Not a retaliatory comment. You were probably one of the most respectable commenters regarding such discourse.
LA has been buying old hotels and other less profitable structures and have been converting them to transitionary housing at levels LA could never if it was new construction.
I do believe in the power of Chicago buying units from private developers. It would be transformative for the city’s affordable housing supply. But I don’t see a scenario in where that process doesn’t become corrupt in some fashion. It would be impossible not to pick favorites or a buddy or an exclusive life partner. One way or another, it’s just a matter of oversight we don’t have.
As for the city scaling down its density of affordable housing and not going ham on bungalows and townhouses, it comes down to the requirements needed for such housing. There’s so many current programmatic needs. Not sure the current administration has the coordination to bring some significant and meaningful change. SF’s new mayor is truly out there doing what he can on the front lines day-to-day. Johnson… only shows where there’s a camera around.