Initial plans have been revealed for a new affordable residential development at 3251 West Division Street in Humboldt Park. Located at the intersection with North Spaulding Avenue, the project would replace a vacant lot just west of the neighborhood’s namesake park. The details were presented this past week at a local community meeting.
Site context map of 3251 W Division St via Google Maps
Led by the Hispanic Housing Development Corporation (HHDC), which is also behind the Pioneer Arcade redevelopment, the new six-story proposal is being designed by Chicago-based WJW Architects. To address concerns about density, the team set back the upper floor enough that it will not be visible from the street, allowing the structure to appear shorter, according to Block Club.
View of of 3251 W Division St via Google Maps
Inside, the building’s first floor will feature various amenity spaces, including a fitness room and a community room, along with parking for 16 cars. Above this will be 44 residential units, made up of 12 one-bedroom, 25 two-bedroom, and seven three-bedroom layouts. These units will all be made affordable for residents earning 50 to 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Rendering of 3251 W Division St by WJW Architects
The building will feature a brick façade along the two lower floors, with the upper levels clad in white panels with black accents and space for a mural. The project is set to cost $36 million and will be funded through various sources, including IHDA tax credits. The team will apply for zoning approvals soon, ahead of breaking ground in June 2027. Completion is expected in September 2028.
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We need more projects like this for affordable housing
No, “we” don’t. It makes no economic sense.
@Greg I second that 100%.
Short-term, we need lower property taxes and less regulation to get developers building in underdeveloped areas. We’ll quickly see more affordable housing popping up across the city.
We don’t need more government subsidized “affordable” projects that cost $818,000 per unit. Just for reference: a shiny new amenity-rich glass tower in the West Loop (one that pays market price for the land it sits on) runs about $450,000 a unit.
If these “developers” could bring in a project at, say, $400,000 a unit, they could house twice as many people for the same cost. But that’s not their goal here. The goal here is to enrich an insider class of consultants and organizations. The few units they provide are just cover for their self-enrichment.
Hi everyone,
Please keep your comments respectful. As we have covered along with multiple other news outlets like Block Club, there are various reasons why affordable housing cost more than traditional housing, including long-term rent subsidies, maintenance funding for 10 years minimum secured up front, and more.
Thanks for reading.
Ian, as a reporter, are you sure the $36 million project costs stated here does in fact include long-term rent subsidies and 10 years maintenance funding etc. To me project costs only encompasses construction.
Hey B,
While I cannot confirm what the cost of this specific building costs, most of these projects that receive state or federal money do have to do this as they are given a certain window within which they can perform any renovations, etc. I will reach out and try to confirm this.
To address “concerns about density” …community input is such a destructive process
All these projects have accent colors and (or) murals like its a city ordinance.
It drives me crazy. It’s like we’re trying to “mark” these buildings as lesser. Or “cheer up” lower income residents in some patronizing way. Or it’s part of a larger scheme to get people to grow contempt for subsidized housing.
I know brick is more expensive than panels, but finishing the brick up to the roof and accentuating the cornice a bit wouldn’t have cost THAT much extra while making a world of a difference.
Murals do not belong on the sides of buildings and are ALL in bad taste and unnecessary .
Murals, which by definition are painted on walls (“wall” is “murus” in Latin), do not belong on sides of buildings?
LOL
Looks nice! And great location right by the bus stop and only two blocks from Humboldt Park.
I hope they build it 🙂
If this was market rate and got built 2 years ago it would be phenomenal, but instead it’s taken 4 years to get to this point and the price is not sustainable for something that needs to be done thousands of times citywide.
For $36 million the design of this building should be WAY better.
Any idea what income is required to “afford” one of these “affordable” units? Let’s just call it what it is . . . Whatever that is.
Hi Bryant,
Like most affordable developments, it ranges between 30% to 60% AMI, with some going as high as 80% AMI. This normally starts around $25,000 per year for single person households. The overall income cap also depends on family size.
All of these items are something that can be googled and by no means are hidden by the developer nor city. This is affordable housing.
Thanks for reading
Where can I apply to live in these facilities/homes?