Photo Credit: Lanette Warbington
A once-vacant stretch of land on Chicago’s South Side has transformed into a symbol of renewal.
Earlier this week, Mayor Brandon Johnson stood alongside city officials and residents of Auburn Gresham to celebrate the grand opening of the Auburn Gresham Apartments—a $47 million affordable housing development at 79th Street.
“The investments we are seeing today on the South Side will ensure that Chicago continues to grow and thrive, not just today, but for generations to come,” Johnson said. “We want to continue to attract people, businesses and jobs to Chicago, particularly to our South and West Sides, and these projects in Auburn Gresham are an important step forward for our city.”
The development spans two newly constructed buildings on former City-owned land:
- 757 W. 79th St.: A five-story structure offering 30 one- to three-bedroom apartments, 14 parking spaces, and 3,300 square feet of commercial space that will house the KLEO Community Center and The Park Supper Club.
- 838 W. 79th St.: A three-story building featuring 28 one- to three-bedroom apartments, 28 parking spaces, and 5,200 square feet of commercial space, which AYO Foods, a West African food company, will occupy.
All 58 apartments are income-restricted and affordable for residents earning 60% of the Area Median Income, with monthly rents ranging from $995 to $1,600.
The project emerged from a 2020 Request for Proposals by the Department of Planning and Development. It aims to breathe new life into the 79th Street corridor with a blend of housing and commercial use. Community input helped shape the final layout, leading to adjustments in unit distribution between the two buildings.
The initiative is a partnership between the minority-owned Imagine Group and Evergreen Real Estate Group. Ross Barney Architects and Nia Architects led the design, while GMA Construction Group served as the general contractor.
“This is tremendous reactivation of vacant land that’s going to revitalize the 79th Street corridor and support other neighborhood investments that are essential to area needs,” said Planning Commissioner Ciere Boatright.
City support played a significant role in bringing the development to life. The project received:
- $18 million in Tax Increment Financing
- $21 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity
- $7.3 million from the Chicago Recovery Plan
- A land write-down valued at approximately $180,000