The City Council has greenlit a project for affordable apartments aimed at Chicago’s Native American community
Chicago: A nonprofit developer just got the thumbs up from the City Council to build affordable apartments in Irving Park. This project is all about creating a space for the Native American community.
Full Circle Communities is teaming up with Visionary Ventures to put up a seven-story building at 2907 W. Irving Park Road. They plan to have 45 apartments and some commercial space, too.
While the apartments are designed for the Native American community, they won’t be exclusively for Indigenous residents. The building will also have cool amenities like a rooftop garden, fitness room, and even a space for art and community activities.
Construction could kick off this spring, according to Mary Donoghue from Full Circle. They’re also planning to have a nonprofit organization in the commercial space to serve the local Native American community.
This project is part of a larger effort, with 24 affordable developments getting city support through tax credits. The site was previously an empty lot, and the developers had to get a zoning change to move forward.
Some neighbors were concerned about the building’s height, but the developers argued that it was necessary for financial viability. Four local groups tried to halt the project, but they didn’t succeed.
Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez defended the project, saying that affordable housing is tough to come by and that saying no could hurt future developments. She noted that the community had given positive feedback on the plans.
Rodriguez-Sanchez has been a strong advocate for more affordable housing in her ward, especially as rents rise and two-flats are converted into single-family homes.
