The Chicago Department of Housing (DOH) has received approval for an ordinance that extends the construction period for Renaissance Apartments, a 101-unit Single-Room Occupancy (SRO) building in Bronzeville. The City Council approved nearly six million dollars in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and Chicago Recovery Plan (CRP) funds for this project in 2023.
The extension was required because rehabilitation of the building exceeded the original timeline. To comply with the terms of the Redevelopment Agreement and receive its final payment, the construction period needed to be extended.
Renaissance Apartments is located at 37th and Wabash. It offers permanent supportive housing through 101 Project-Based Section 8 SRO units and includes 20,000 square feet of recreational space. Of these units, 100 have rents set at 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI), while the property manager’s unit is set at 60% AMI.
The Renaissance Collaborative (TRC) acquired and renovated the historic YMCA building in 1998, with initial financing from the City of Chicago. TRC provides supportive housing as well as employment and educational services to people experiencing chronic homelessness.
The DOH works to address historical segregation and promote housing equity for marginalized communities, according to its official website. As part of Chicago’s governmental structure, DOH operates across all 77 communities in the city. The department manages federal housing funds through programs like the Qualified Allocation Plan and enforces local ordinances such as the Affordable Requirements Ordinance (source). It also collaborates with advocates, developers, and elected officials to address housing issues throughout Chicago (source).
DOH seeks to improve access to affordable, safe, and healthy homes while protecting residents’ rights to quality housing (source). Its initiatives include providing resources for renters, landlords, and homebuyers as well as supporting affordable housing funds and community repair programs (source).
