United Yards breaks ground

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Ald. Jeanette Taylor recently joined developers Celadon Partners and Blackwood Group to start construction on United Yards, a $58M mixed-use project that will revitalize the heart of the Back of the Yards neighborhood. As the winning team from the mayor’s Invest South/West RFP process for the site, the project includes multiple new and rehabilitated commercial and residential buildings near the 47th and Ashland intersection.

"This groundbreaking marks yet another milestone in our INVEST South/West journey to revitalize our underserved neighborhoods," Mayor Lightfoot said. "The economic activity, job opportunities, health care, and housing options that United Yards is bringing to New City will catalyze future investment in the surrounding community for years to come. I've been proud to work with my team and deliver these kinds of transformative projects across the South and West sides over the last four years."  

Set to cost $17.9 million, the first phase of United Yards includes the adaptive re-use of a former Goldblatt’s showroom at 4700 S. Ashland as a 15,000-square-foot, federally qualified health center, which will provide primary care services, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Approximately 7,200 square feet will be used as retail space for La Selva Apparel Company, Back of the Yards Coffee, Back of the Yards Barbershop, and Aracely's Bakery.  

 The first phase also includes construction of a 6,500-square-foot building at 1641 W. 47th that will be anchored by Somos Monos Cerveceria. The city approved $5 million in TIF funding to help finance the first phase of the development.   

The second phase of the project, set to cost $40 million, will deliver a 51-unit affordable apartment building with a 7,000-square-foot technology training center for minority entrepreneurs at 1515 W. 47th. A pair of affordable three-flats will also be built at 4706-08 S. Marshfield. All of the residential units in phase two will be affordable up to 60% of AMI.   

With the groundbreaking celebrated, initial work is underway on United Yards’ first two phases. Work on these phases is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The third phase, set to follow behind the first two, will see the mixed-use rehabilitation of the three-story “Rainbow” commercial building at 4701 S. Ashland.