City Council approves city funding for LeClaire Courts redevelopment

The Chicago City Council has approved a funding stack for the first phase of residential redevelopment of LeClaire Courts. Planned by Habitat and Cabrera Capital Partners, the 32-acre site, bounded by Cicero Avenue to the east, 45th Street to the south, Lavergne Avenue to the west, and the Stevenson Expressway to the north, was previously home to the LeClaire Courts public housing community, which was completed in the 1950s and demolished in 2011. Under Habitat’s multi-phase plan, the site will be redeveloped into as many as 700 residential units, most of which will be affordable; nearly 440,000 square feet of commercial space; and publicly accessible open areas.

Designed by SCB, the first phase of the redevelopment consists of two six-story mixed-use buildings located on the west side of Cicero Avenue between 44th and 45th streets. Collectively, they will offer 183 apartments in a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans, as well as a 14,000-square-foot early childhood center and 2,200 square feet of additional first floor retail space across the two structures. Ninety percent of the homes will be designated as affordable through income and rent restrictions accompanying the development’s various sources of public financial support, including the CHA, the Chicago Department of Housing and the Illinois Housing Development Authority, with the remainder available as market-rate apartments.

Residents in Phase I will have access to on-site amenities including a fitness center in each building, multiple lounges, community rooms, resident services meeting space, laundry facilities, package rooms and bicycle storage. A rooftop apiary on the north building will enhance urban biodiversity, foster environmental sustainability, provide fresh honey for residents and offer educational opportunities for families. Additional exterior features will include community-centered murals on both the north and south buildings, surface parking, two playgrounds, a landscaped gathering area between the structures with a greenway running through it, and accessible walking paths that will eventually connect to an on-site grocer, healthcare facilities and other retail offerings.

As approved by City Council the $127 million development will be funded with a large stack of funding sources, including a $43.7 million senior construction loan, a $7 million permanent loan, $9.5 million in city multi-family program funds, $5.5 million in TIF financing, a $24.5 million CHA loan, a $700,000 Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Grant Proceeds Loan, $33.7 million in LIHTC equity, $1.25 million in Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit equity, and a $1.2 million deferred developer fee.

Construction of the LeClaire Courts residential phase is being led by The George Sollitt Construction Company. Permits for the new construction have been filed and are awaiting issuance. Work is expected to begin sometime this year.