A gleaming tower adjacent to the 43rd Street Green Line station in Bronzeville represents the promise of revitalization for a corridor starved for development and activity.
The name of this project is called 43 Green. On Tuesday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot joined city officials, developers and other stakeholders for a joint ribbon-cutting and groundbreaking for the innovative, mixed-use project in the historic Southside community.
“We expect 43 Green to provide jobs and spur economic activity, to promote a mixed-use walkable corridor and breathe life into an area of our city that has gone for far too long without new investments and developments,” said Mayor Lightfoot at the event.
The ribbon-cutting celebrated Phase I of 43 Green, the $37.8 million, 10-story structure perched on the corner of 43rd Street and Calumet. The groundbreaking portion marked the start of construction for Phase II, a $44M 10-story building at 43rd and Prairie, just west of the first building.
When construction is completed, both structures will effectively “hug” the elevated 43rd Street station by design.
“We know people need to be able to afford housing near their work, near their children’s schools, near transit, near families, near friends,” said Chicago Housing Commissioner Marisa Novara, “This should be an option all over the city. 43 Green was an early step toward this.”
The project’s proximity to public transportation is one of its primary features.
“Living at 43 Green will allow you the opportunity to live in an amazing neighborhood while having direct access to downtown Chicago,” states its website.
43 Green results from Mayor Lightfoot’s INVEST South/West program, an initiative that mobilizes the resources of multiple City departments, community organizations and corporate partners toward projects in 10 South and West side communities.
Other significant emphases of this project are that it is equitable, inclusive and affordable.
For instance, the Phase I building on 43rd and Calumet has 99 studio, one- or two-bedroom units, with 51 designated as affordable and available at 60% of the Area Median Income. It also has 5,000 square feet of retail space.
The Phase II structure on 43rd and Prairie will contain 80 units, with 44 designated as affordable to prospective tenants at 60% AMI and below. It will have about 3,600 square feet of retail space.
“I’m proud of this development because the people in the neighborhood are proud of the development and that shows,” said Phillip L Beckham III of P3 Markets, which joined The Habitat Company to develop 43 Green. Beckham cited that people from the neighborhood have taken hundreds of selfies in front of the first building.
The first building is set to open this summer and will serve as a new chapter for a neighborhood regarded as the heart of Black Chicago.
“43 Green reaffirms the incredible potential of Bronzeville,” said Lightfoot, “And the 43 street corridor, demonstrating to the city and beyond that you can and should bet on Bronzeville.”
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