Funding has been secured for the upcoming first phase of the larger LeClaire Courts redevelopment at 4809 West 44th Street in Garfield Ridge. Located along Cicero Avenue, the project replaces the large vacant lot left behind after the demolition of the former Chicago Housing Authority’s public housing complex near Midway International Airport.
Site context of LeClaire Courts by SCB
Efforts for the $127 million first phase are being led by a collaboration between Cabrera Capital Partners and The Habitat Company. They have been working with the local office of architecture firm SCB on both of the six-story buildings, which will be connected via a central walkway and green park space leading to the 134-vehicle parking garage in the back.
Bird’s-eye rendering of LeClaire Courts redevelopment by SCB
North building floor plans of LeClaire Courts by SCB
Joining the parking lots will be two playgrounds, one of which will be used for a new 10,000-square-foot childcare facility on the ground floor of one of the buildings. The other will hold a community room along with 2,200 square feet of commercial space. Combined, the buildings will deliver 183 residential units made up of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts.
Rendering of LeClaire Courts by SCB
Per previous coverage, around 90 percent of the units will be considered affordable, including some for CHA vouchers. The remainder will be market rate. The approved funding stack sources $33 million in LIHTC, $27 million in the form of CHA loans, $9.5 million in city funds, $5.5 million in TIF money, among others. A groundbreaking is approved for this fall.
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Always need the MLK mural in the rendering when it’s a project meant for a Black neighborhood
I find this article to be very confusing. Is the $127M going to create 183 living units? If so, that’s $693K per unit. Why? Why is affordable housing not affordable? I thought there is a housing crisis. If the cost per unit could be cut in half, which is still high for an average amenity private sector unit, there would be 366 affordable units. Why do renters need such a large community center? Why a 10k square foot child care space? Why aren’t the bike aficionados screaming about the 134 space parking lot? Who is going to rent the 18 units that are market rate? How many will actually be CHA vouchers instead?