$200M invested in mixed-use development in the Lawndale neighborhood

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The Habitat Company of Chicago, a leading U.S. multifamily developer and property manager, has received approval from the city’s Planning Commission to move forward with plans for a $200 million 10-acre mixed-use project in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood.
The project will be developed in partnership with the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), Sinai Health System, Cinespace Chicago Film Studios and the city of Chicago. Known as Ogden Commons, the development will offer mixed-income rental housing, retail and commercial space.
 
Bordered by Ogden Avenue to the south, Fairfield Avenue to the west and Rockwell Street to the east, Ogden Commons will be located on the former site of the Chicago Housing Authority’s Lawndale development. The mixed-use project will transform 10 acres of mostly vacant property near Douglas Park into 120,000 square feet of commercial and retail space plus hundreds of mixed-income housing units. 
 
“The Habitat Company is proud to lead this public-private partnership to bring not only much-needed quality housing to the North Lawndale neighborhood, but also commercial and retail spaces that will help expand employment opportunities and health services in this area,” said Matt Fiascone, Habitat Company president. “Ogden Commons is more than just a group of buildings – it’s about a commitment by each partner to help enhance an historic community that will serve the residents and businesses of North Lawndale and the greater Chicago area for years to come.”
 
Ogden Commons will be developed in multiple phases, with the first phase comprised of 45,000 square feet of commercial space, 15,000 square feet of retail space and a portion of the planned residences. Construction on the commercial space is expected to begin during second quarter 2019 with the residential work to follow. 
The entire development is projected for completion in 2021, at which time Cinespace and Sinai will occupy a significant portion of the commercial space, expanding on their current locations on Ogden Avenue across from the Ogden Commons site. 
 
Cinespace Chicago Film Studios occupies 1.45 million square feet of what used to be the Ryerson Steel Company, and specializes in the development, management and operation of studio facilities. Its additional space at Ogden Commons will allow the growing film studio – home to a number of TV shows and movies, such as Empire, Chicago Fire and Divergent – to expand its services. Cinespace has created more than 15,000 film-related jobs and has generated more than $5 billion in revenue for the city and the state.
 
Sinai Health System has had a presence in North Lawndale for nearly 100 years with its Mount Sinai Hospital, along with Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital and Sinai Community Institute, all located along Ogden Avenue. Its new space at Ogden Commons will enable Sinai to continue providing quality care in new modern healthcare spaces for outpatient services.
 
In addition to providing newly constructed mixed-income apartments for employees of Cinespace and Sinai, Ogden Commons will serve as a convenient housing option for employees of other key North Lawndale businesses such asLagunitas Brewing Company.  
 
Fiascone said the development team will work closely with the city of Chicago to implement extensive streetscape enhancements along Ogden Avenue, including decorative lighting, special pavers, landscaping and benches to enhance the area’s pedestrian environment and commercial viability.
 
Ogden Commons is expected to be funded by a number of public and private funding sources typically available to support the development of mixed-use, mixed-income housing developments like this one. 

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