Chicago Housing Authority OK’s Irving Park and West Ridge libraries, Logan Square LGBTQ housing

The City of Chicago’s big plan to “co-locate” mixed-income housing with new, architecturally significant Chicago public libraries reached an important milestone this week. The board of the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) voted to authorize a pair of loans of up to $11 million each for two such projects: Irving Park’s ‘Independence Branch’ at 4022-4036 N. Elston Avenue and West Ridge’s ‘Northtown Branch’ at 6800-6824 N. Western Avenue.

Respectively designed by local firms John Ronan Architects and Perkins+Will, the new CPL/CPA buildings will each contain a total of 44 apartments comprised of 30 public housing units and 14 affordable-rate units. Both the Irving Park and West Ridge projects are being developed in partnership with Chicago-based Evergreen Real Estate Group.

A third combination housing/library structure from architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is in the works at at 1340 W. Taylor as part of the ongoing redevelopment of Roosevelt Square. All three co-located housing and neighborhood library projects are expected to go before the Chicago Plan Commission and City Council for final approvals later this summer.

City of Chicago

In other Chicago Housing Authority-related news, the group’s board also approved $12.5 million for construction of the John Pennycuff Memorial Apartments in Logan Square. Slated to replace the surface parking lot at 2031 N. Milwaukee Avenue, the LGBTQ-friendly housing development will rise seven stories and contain 88 new residences, including 47 CHA units and 41 affordable apartments.

The John Pennycuff project is being developed by CSA Partners, Ltd. Building amenities will include a community room, an outdoor picnic area, and 2,500 square feet of new ground floor commercial space. Additional funding is expected to come from a combination of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) dollars, tax credits, and private sources.

CSA Partners, Ltd.

• Three prominent Chicago architects selected for combined public housing/library projects [Curbed Chicago]
• Alderman proposes new LGBTQ housing development for Milwaukee Avenue [Curbed Chicago]
• Chicago Development News [Curbed Chicago]