Chicago
After the building sat abandoned and empty for 40 years, Mercy Housing Lakefront redeveloped the former Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog printing facility into 181 units of affordable housing. The property will serve as an anchor in Chicago’s Homan Square neighborhood.
The redevelopment of the property was substantial, with the interior of the building demolished to supporting columns. Wherever possible these improvements have been designed to preserve the historic significance of the building in which the iconic Sears catalog was printed.
The Lofts on Arthington’s units range in size from one to four bedrooms. Sixty-six of the apartments are targeted to families whose income is up to 30% of the area median income (AMI); the remaining 115 apartments are affordable to moderate-income families whose income is 60% of the AMI.
The renovated building will provide safe and affordable housing to more than 300 children and their families. Residents will also have on-site access to programs and supportive services including pre-K education, in-unit neonatal health care, and job training.