Richard Townsell Blames City of Chicago for Stalled Housing Project

Lawndale Christian Development’s Richard Townsell is fed up with city officials’ lack of urgency to help kickstart more housing in areas that need it most in Chicago.

Several years ago, former mayor Lori Lightfoot and her team backed a plan to build 250 single-family homes on city-owned lots in the North Lawndale neighborhood. But only 18 homes are under construction, and zero have been completed, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Townsell doesn’t blame any individuals for the stalled North Lawndale program. Rather, he blames the city’s rigid policies and sluggish approval process. Attaining basic permits and inspections can take months, according to Townsell. He said one property was held up because of a $19 balance from years ago.

“The city is spending too much time on fluffy things — issues of design and policy,” Townsell told the outlet. “It is not built around production. It is built around policy wonk ideas, and as a result nothing gets done.”

Chicago’s Housing Department recently issued a statement, defending the construction delays. It called the program a pilot effort that requires ample collaboration between multiple departments and local partners. The city is “looking at how to streamline this and other aspects of the program to facilitate construction,” the statement said.

Moreover, increased interest rates and construction costs have hindered the project, as well. Townsell was planning to sell the homes for about $220,000, but he’s had to raise prices to around $250,000. His group has received $17.5 million in construction loans from banks and foundations, but he’d like to up that to $25 million, the outlet said.

Lawndale Christian Development, meanwhile, continues to fight for more housing in the West Side neighborhood. The firm, of which Townsell is the executive director, has built more than 490 apartments in the area and is seeking ways to make use of its many vacant lots.

—Quinn Donoghue