A groundbreaking has been held for a new mixed-use affordable development at 6301 South Western Avenue in Chicago Lawn. Located at the intersection with West 63rd Street and replacing a now-demolished commercial structure, the project has been in the works for several years, having received city approval over a year ago.
Site context map of 6301 S Western Avenue via Google Maps
Efforts for the project are being led by the Southwest Side Organizing Project in partnership with Brinshore Development. They have been working with architecture firm K2 Studio on the design of the five-story building. The L-shaped structure will wrap around a small, 11-space parking lot in the rear, accessed from 63rd Street.
Floor plan of 6301 S Western Avenue by K2 Studio
Inside will be 2,500 square feet of commercial space split into two separate suites, along with a small community room, fitness room, bike parking, communal laundry, and a lobby. Above this will be 44 residential units consisting of one- and two-bedroom layouts. All units will be designated as affordable, with residents within walking distance of Marquette Park.
Form and elevations of 6301 S Western Avenue by K2 Studio
The $22.5 million building will be somewhat unique, as much of it will be prefabricated, with 60 percent of the structure manufactured locally in Roseland, according to Block Club. The exterior will be clad in a mix of multi-colored decorative panels, with inset windows to help break up the massing. Toro Construction will serve as the general contractor, with a completion date slated for spring 2027.
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Prefab is a good option in an expensive housing crisis. I’m sure there is a lot of red tape surrounding it though. Would not even mind seeing container homes on some of these empty lots..
Why do you think there’s ‘red tape’ surrounding it?
There’s a lot of red tape affordable housing builders are required to work through to fund, build and manage these properties.
This is a nice looking building, finally not one of just plain brick without any relief. I like the panels on the exterior and the use of different colors. The massing of the building is well planned.
Also, love the idea of pre-fab options if it speeds up construction and reduces cost. Might be an issue with some of the labor unions however, would be interested to see the history of how this building was approved.
A good test for the local prefab business that’s been in the news occasionally over the past few years. $500K per unit is a lot, but seems to be lower than other recent city-backed housing projects.