Clybourn 1200, a new mixed-income, mixed-use community, is helping to repair the legacy of Chicago’s notorious Cabrini Green public housing project.
“Cabrini Green was an island of poverty on the North Side that is now sitting on one of the most attractive retail corridors in the city. It has allowed a true mix of incomes, races, retail, as well as residential to come together on this one site. And we have been able to bring to the table very special programs that attract people across the income spectrums in a way that we’re not seeing in other mixed-income developments,” says Peter Levavi, senior vice president at Brinshore Development.
The 84-unit development, built in partnership by Brinshore Development, The Michaels Development Co., and Cabrini Green LAC CDC, serves a mix of incomes, including 26 units at or below 60% of the area median income (AMI), 26 units at or below 80% of the AMI, and the remaining 32 at market rates. Twenty-six former Cabrini Green residents live at the development.
Clybourn 1200 touts programs to promote economic integration within the building. The site previously had been used by City Farm for a beloved community garden. Now City Farm staff help supervise a garden on the third floor roof and promote the participation of residents in its new location a block away. An apiary on the seventh floor roof allows management to teach beekeeping, honey collection, and product creation with the assistance of the Chicago Honey Cooperative. Another partnership with Near North Unity Program helps to provide opportunities for residents to get involved in the community.
In addition, the 157,000-square-foot building supports the commercial growth in the neighborhood with a mixed-income day care, a bank branch, an Italian motorcycle apparel store, and a mattress store.
Completed in March 2017, the $42.1 million development was financed with a variety of public and private sources, including a Chicago Housing Authority loan, low-income housing tax credits, donation tax credits, and tax-increment financing from the city. The Richman Group Affordable Housing Corp. provided the equity, and Citi Community Capital was the construction and permanent debt provider.
