The Chicago Housing Authority is seeking developers for a 7-acre site in Old Town, issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to build approximately 450 mixed-income residential units.
Under CHA’s guidelines, 40% of the apartments will be subsidized by the agency. At least 20% must be designated as affordable housing, and no more than 50% may be market rate. Proposals are due by May 27.
The development site, located at 1450 N. Larrabee St., is a wedge-shaped parcel bordered by Clybourn Avenue, Larrabee Street, Ogden Avenue and Blackhawk Street. It marks the continuation of a long-term effort to transform the surrounding area.
The site sits near the original Cabrini-Green public housing development, built between the 1940s and 1960s. At its peak occupancy, Cabrini-Green housed more than 15,000 residents in a mix of high-rise towers and rowhouses. Over time, it became a symbol of the struggles within large-scale public housing—plagued by underfunding, crime and neglect.
Despite the challenges, many residents developed a strong sense of community. Generations of families raised their children in Cabrini-Green, forging lasting bonds. The neighborhood’s complex legacy has been captured in music, film and television, reflecting its broader cultural impact.
Demolition of the housing project began in the 1990s as part of a citywide effort to revitalize public housing through mixed-income redevelopment. Also located on the site was Near North Career Metropolitan High School, which closed in 2001. The CHA acquired the property in 2014 and demolished the building in 2023.
An earlier redevelopment plan for the area—designed by a team including Hunt Development Group, Pennrose and Imagine Group—envisioned 742 units and 22,000 square feet of retail space. That proposal was ultimately scrapped when Hunt withdrew and Pennrose exited the Chicago market.
While the original timeline aimed for construction to begin in fiscal year 2024, a new schedule will be announced once a developer is selected from the current RFP process.
Photo Courtesy
Victorgrigas via Wikimedia Commons
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
The post Chicago Housing Authority issues RFP for 7-acre project in Old Town appeared first on Government Market News.