Chicago City Wire

The Chicago City Council has greenlighted funding for the adaptive reuse of the Humboldt Park United Methodist Church into residential units. The former church's main area is set to be transformed into 10 additional apartments, while an adjacent apartment building, consisting of 12 units, will undergo rehabilitation.

This development, managed by LUCHA, comprises diverse unit options: eight studios, eight one-bedroom apartments, three two-bedroom apartments, and three three-bedroom apartments. The plan includes 12 units priced at 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Additionally, five units will serve as Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), and another five units will be subsidized under the MAUI program, with affordability targeted at households earning 15% and 30% of AMI.

The financing for this undertaking will be sourced from the City of Chicago’s Department of Housing. The funding will include up to $10 million from tax-exempt housing revenue bonds, generating approximately $7.7 million in equity for the project. It will also receive a $1.35 million grant from the Chicago Recovery Plan for permanent supportive housing, a $1,288,919 grant from the Chicago Recovery Plan dedicated to decarbonization, and up to $4,766,904 in Department of Housing soft funds. Moreover, additional financial backing will come from HUD Community Project Funding, State of Illinois grants, and ComEd grants.