A new residential development near O’Hare Airport was approved by the Chicago Plan Commission.
The project, being developed by GlenStar and designed by FitzGerald Associates, will create almost 300 residential units at 8535 W Higgins Road, Chicago YIMBY reports.
The new development will be incorporated into the surrounding office complex and Marriott at the location.
Of the 297 residences, 59 will be classified as “affordable housing.” This means the affordable units will comprise about 20 percent of the total development — a number that exceeds the city’s requirement of 10 percent under the Affordable Requirements Ordinance.
With the average rent for an apartment in Chicago on the rise for a seventh consecutive month, affordable housing is more necessary than ever.
The affordable units, 20 of which will be available to households that earn below 50 percent of the area’s average median income, will consist of 17 studio apartments, 24 one-bedroom apartments and 18 two-bedroom apartments.
The project will also feature more parking — 270 spaces — as a key feature of the development, as 71 percent of the more than 13,000 residents in the area report driving to work. Glenstar is also planning to improve pedestrian access to the CTA Blue Line Cumberland stop, which is nearby.
The new residential development is expected to draw in tenants who work at the airport and are looking for a shorter commute.
The 90-foot-tall building will be divided into seven floors and will design features such as landscaped green space and an outdoor pool.
While this $90 million project passed the Chicago Plan Commission, it still needs to get approval from the Zoning Committee and Chicago City Council. Commissioner Maurice Cox supports the project, but it has faced opposition from local residents and with the 41st Ward Alderman Anthony Napolitano.
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[Chicago YIMBY] — Victoria Pruitt