City Of Chicago: Mayor Lightfoot Announces An Additional $200 Million In Planned Investments For Invest South/West Commercial Corridors

Press release from :

August 23, 2021

CHICAGO - Today, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and City leaders announced the selection of four mixed-use INVEST South/West projects planned for areas in South Chicago, North Lawndale, Bronzeville, and New City and additional collaborations with three minority-led developers.  

The projects, which are valued at approximately $200 million, were selected in response to a second round of Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) last winter. The four RFP selections will collectively create more than 215 residential units, 40,000 square feet of commercial space, and approximately 900 permanent and temporary jobs on commercial corridor sites that are either vacant or underutilized.  

The three additional minority-led proposals planned for nearby City-owned locations will create dozens of additional residential units, tens of thousands of square feet of new commercial space, and more than 100 new hotel rooms, pending refinements to be completed in the months ahead. 

"One of my highest priorities is bringing catalytic investments to our South and West Side communities, which have gone far too long without revitalization," Mayor Lightfoot said. "These new projects will allow us to do that and represent an important collaboration between our city departments and the communities we serve. I want to give a huge congratulations to all of our finalists and look forward to cutting the ribbon to their exciting, equity and inclusion-driven projects in the very near future."  

The RFPs’ 15 responses were subject to a months-long review process that included neighborhood roundtables and selection teams comprised of City of Chicago staff and community-based evaluators. Final selections were based on responsiveness to the goals of each RFP, developer experience and capacity, development team diversity, community wealth-building components, proposed designs, financial viability, community feedback, and other criteria. 

All of the projects are led by minority firms with multiple minority- or women-owned team members. 

“The RFP responses exceeded our most optimistic expectations in both quality and diversity,” DPD Commissioner Maurice Cox said.  “As a result, we’re ensuring that several of the runners-up have a way to move their projects forward on nearby City-owned sites. This is what social equity is supposed to look like at the neighborhood level.” 

The selections, announced today at Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School, include the following development teams, projects, and locations: 

United Yards (New City) 

United Yards is a $51.5 million joint venture of Celadon Partners and the Blackwood Group planned for multiple vacant and improved properties near Ashland Avenue and 47th Street. The project will redevelop a vacant, City-owned lot at 1515 W. 47th St. with a 50-unit affordable apartment building that includes a ground floor business hub and youth programming space. Additional phases will revitalize a largely vacant, four-story commercial building at 4701 S. Ashland Ave. with 30 senior rental apartments and a ground-floor coffee shop; redevelop vacant land at 1641 W. 47th St. with a pair of affordable, three-flat buildings; and enhance an existing supportive living center at 4707 S. Marshfield Ave. with renovated retail space, parking, and park space. The proposed project will create 44 permanent jobs and more than 330 construction jobs.   

“This development will pour millions of dollars into this neighborhood which is much needed as the city recovers from the pandemic,” said 20th Ward Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor. “With affordable housing, a business hub and a youth programming space, this development will promote growth and opportunity in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.” 

The Legacy District (Bronzeville)