Housing For All plans 104 affordable units for Rogers Park

Housing For All wants to bring workforce housing to Rogers Park, adding to a high concentration of affordable housing projects in the area.

The developer’s recently revealed plans at a community meeting that call for 104 apartments, reserved for households earning $22,000-$72,000 annually, and 4,000 square feet of retail space at the northeast corner of Howard and Paulina streets, across from the Howard Red Line station, Block Club reported. 

The project is expected to cost $30 million and will be built out in two phases. The first phase will replace a single-story retail structure with a 52-unit, six-story building that will include 21 two-bedroom, 13 three-bedroom, 11 one-bedroom and seven studio apartments.

Of the 52 units, 41 would be held for households with earnings within 60 percent of the area median income, which is $62,520 for a household of four. The remaining 11 units would be for those earning 30 percent of the area median income, or $31,260.

The retail building currently houses a post office, currency exchange and Redz Belizean Restaurant. Housing For All hopes to keep the currency exchange and restaurant as tenants, while finding a new location for the post office.

Housing For All principal Shelly Tucciarelli said the development is meant to cater to working-class families.

The second phase would repurpose the historic Werner Brothers Storage building at 7613 North Paulina Street to create 20 apartments. The developer initially sought to raze the site, but its status as one of the most endangered historic Chicago buildings altered the plan. 

A new building on a parking lot just north of Werner Brothers Storage is set to include an additional 32 units to complete the plan. 

While Housing For All insists that Rogers Park needs 800 more affordable units by 2027 to accommodate local demographics, opponents of the plan say there’s already a high number of similar projects and government subsidized housing in the area. Some residents would rather see officials get a handle on local crime before adding more housing.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden, of the 49th Ward, said there will be more opportunities for members of the community to provide feedback before making its way to city council. Hadden believes the development would make Howard Street safer because more people and businesses means “more eyes on the street.”

—Quinn Donoghue