Chicago City Wire

Ninety-nine new homes valued at $40 million are set to be developed in North Lawndale, as announced by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) through its Missing Middle housing initiative. Five developer teams have been selected from 30 applicants who responded to a DPD request for applications for six clusters of vacant City land.

Each chosen developer is minority-led and plans to construct multi-unit buildings that have been absent from the community in recent decades, according to DPD Commissioner Ciere Boatright. "These teams will be leading the charge to repopulate North Lawndale by replacing an initial 36 lots with market rate housing that’s affordable to local buyers," said Boatright. The pilot phase aims to expand into other West and South Side neighborhoods in the coming months.

Developer responses for Cluster B's eight City lots are still under review, with the potential development of 16 or more units. The DPD may provide development assistance up to $150,000 per unit, ensuring sales prices align with market rates for local buyers. This assistance would come from Housing and Economic Development bond proceeds, pending City Council approval. Each lot's purchase price could range from approximately $4,700 to $49,900 and might be subject to a land write-down.

A community meeting will introduce the selected developers and proposed housing designs on Thursday, Feb. 13th, at UCAN Academy, co-hosted by DPD and the 24th Ward office. Construction could begin this summer following community engagement and City review processes.

For further details about DPD’s Missing Middle initiative and the RFP, visit cityofchicago.org/MissingMiddle.