In 2008, at the invitation of residents, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) acquired the former Grove Parc Apartments, a massive 504-unit Sec. 8 development that was heading toward foreclosure.
POAH began working on replacing the outdated housing with a model mixed-income, mixed-use community that has improved residents’ quality of life and enhanced Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood.
Opened in June, the 70-unit Woodlawn Station is an integral part of this broader effort. Fifty-five units are located on the former site of the Grove Parc complex. The project includes another 15 units of housing in two buildings less than a quarter-mile south on lots that have been vacant for years.
The apartments will serve residents earning 20% to 120% of the area median income, with half of the units supported by a Sec. 8 contract and providing replacement housing for returning residents. The commercial space has attracted business tenants such as Daley’s Restaurant, an iconic historic Chicago diner dating back to 1892.
Woodlawn Station opens at a pivotal time with the siting of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park to the east and other institutions making investments in the community. “With all this new investment in the neighborhood, the need for preservation of affordability and workforce housing is great,” says Konrad Schlater, POAH senior project manager.
Next to an elevated subway station, the $25.7 million project, which is supported by a federal Choice Neighborhoods Initiative grant, is an exemplary transit-oriented development that mirrors those found in more affluent neighborhoods, says Schlater.
POAH de-emphasized the use of cars and took advantage of a new city ordinance to reduce on-site parking by 50%. Additionally, the building will have a car-share program, interior bike storage, and a transit information screen to monitor train and bus arrivals. The arrival of the Jewel-Osco grocery store two blocks away will be a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Residents will also have access to the nearby Woodlawn Resource Center, an 8,000-square-foot community center, offering social service supports for residents and employment/workforce development opportunities for the entire community. Woodlawn Station continues POAH’s commitment to the revitalization of this South Side neighborhood into a vibrant, bustling hub of activity where people want to live, work, study, and enjoy community activities.
