Chicago chooses housing and commercial mix in Bronzeville, North Lawndale, 2 other development locations

City officials, who selected four development proposals for vacant or underutilized properties, said on Monday the projects will refresh the housing stock and power their south and west areas.

The developments on four commercial corridors will represent a $125 million private investment and yield more than 200 homes, officials said. They announced the winners of a second round of sites the city offered in the effort of Mayor Lori Lightfoots Invest South/West. The locations are in New City, Bronzeville, North Lawndale and South Chicago.

Lightfoot unveiled the rosters at a press conference at Back of the Yards College Prep, 2111 W. 47th St., complete with live performances and musical interludes.

She repeated the topics of conversation she used after the selections in the first round in March. Chicago is slightly bigger than the downtown area, even though it has been the focal point for development under its predecessors for decades. And the selections are made from the ground up not from the top down.

We did not design Invest South/West as a project conceived on the fifth floor of City Hall and then brought to the neighborhoods to thank us for our generosity. That’s not the point, she said.

The winners were chosen from 15 registrations for the corridors. The proposals were so strong that the city has begun talks with second-hand candidates about projects that could be worth another $75 million, said Maurice Cox, Chicago planning commissioner.

Cox said city officials preferred proposals to combine business and residential space. The mix of applications almost guarantees the vibrancy of the street, he said. The land is mostly owned by the city, but with some private owners willing to sell, Cox said. The terms for the sale of land by the city must be finalized and approved by the city council.

We’ve been really successful in using government property to catalyze private interests, Cox said. In general, we were drawn to projects that attempted to create a public domain.

The development teams chosen are minority-led or have significant minority partnerships. The first works could start in the spring of 2022. The projects could create some 300 permanent jobs, officials said.

The winners:

New city A $51.5 million joint venture between Celadon Partners and the Blackwood Group. It calls for the building of an affordable 50-unit apartment complex with a business center and youth programming space at 1515 W. 47^e St. Later phases include the renovation of a building at 4701 S. Ashland Ave. up to 30 senior apartments with a coffee shop and other improvements nearby.

Provided that

Bronzeville A $19.5 million joint venture of KMW Communities and LG Development with Bronzeville Community Partners. At the southwest corner of 47^e Street and Vincennes Avenue, they would build six floors with 25 mixed-income apartments and 12,000 square feet of commercial space.

Provided that

North Lawndale A $31.4 million proposal from GRE Ventures, Imagine Group and 548 Development. On an acre along Ogden Avenue between Homan and Trumbull Avenue, they would build 60 mixed-income condos, three market-grade townhomes, commercial space and a community center.

Provided that

South Chicago A $23.5 million project from 548 Development on the 8800 block of South Commercial Avenue. The block would have a new four-storey building with 35 mixed-income units and a renovated three-storey building with 10 mixed-income units. A cafe, business center and bike shop are included.

Last winter, the city submitted an application for proposals aimed at the four locations. Planning and Development staff reviewed responses and solicited feedback from the community before making the final call. The winners were chosen based on factors such as developer experience, minority investment, financial feasibility and design elements for community needs.

Joint ventures not chosen for deals in Bronzeville and North Lawndale are being considered for projects on nearby land. One could move into a new hotel on Ogden, officials said.

Cox said the city is working with the Cook County Land Bank Authority, which is acquiring vacant or dilapidated properties.

Last March, the city chose developers for commercial pieces in Auburn Gresham, Austin and Englewood. Comments for a third round of RFPs are expected August 31 and will apply at two Humboldt Park locations and one in South Shore.

The RFP process gives the city the freedom to consider many factors when choosing a buyer for its country and not just select the highest bidder.

Lightfoot said the city is encouraging investments that will change people’s perceptions of their neighborhoods.

I don’t want to leave any doubt to anyone who is here, any future projects, to the entire city. Were here for the long haul with you to breathe new life into these communities, she said. And we want to ensure that our investments not only have an immediate impact, but also a generational impact. That’s what this is about.