Paul G. Stewart Center Campus Ground Breaking and Ribbon Cutting Event
A ground breaking and ribbon cutting event commenced in Bronzeville last Wednesday where city and state officials, community leaders and residents celebrated the opening of a 24-unit, affordable family housing, community center, grocery store and a newly rehabbed senior housing tower.
“This is an important project that provides the area with what it critically needs; affordable housing, a community center and access to food,” says Fred Bonner, CEO of Paul G. Stewart who spoke at the event held at 450 E. 40th Street on the Paul G. Stewart Center Campus (PGSC). “We have several growth phases to continue to expand our campus.”
The new PGSC campus is the result of on-going, long-time efforts of the Peoples Consumer Co-Operative (PCC), an Illinois not-for-profit corporation, organized in 1937 as a co-op buying club made up of professional African-Americans who lived in the old Rosenwald building at 47th Street and Michigan Avenue.
The PCC group later formed a credit union that assisted members in purchasing single-family homes and multi-family buildings that were later converted to housing co-ops and condominiums.
Under the leadership of Charles Beckett and later Jeannie Greggs, PCC sponsored and developed 893 affordable housing units for seniors and family households named for Illinois’ second, African-American, certified public accountant, Paul G. Stewart,
Because of its aging membership, in the early 1970s, PCC got involved with government-assisted housing, and now has more than 40 years’ experience in developing, owning and managing, government-assisted housing. The group formed and organized affiliate entities to own the six developments that comprise PGSC.
“Affordable housing units are very important to the community and we have to make sure they remain as part of the community,” Bonner said. “People were asking us if we wanted to sell and we said no. Our goal was for preservation of the units.”
Matt McGill of WVON Radio emceed the event.
“This is what development looks like,” McGill said. “These are beautiful buildings going up and we need to take care of them.”
Third Ward Ald. Pat Dowell was also in attendance.
“This day was a long time coming,” Dowell said. “I don’t think people understand how affordable housing can stabilize a community. I’m glad we have an asset like the Paul G. Stewart Campus…affordable housing for seniors and working families. It’s important we maintain housing for them all over Chicago. Coming back with great housing and a full-service grocery store is important because of the food deserts.”
State Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-23rd) attended the festivities and said, “I’ve lived in this community for over 50 years,” while thanking Bonner and his group for their vision and for sticking with it. “We’ve needed for a long time, low –to-moderate income housing. These facilities were built with your tax dollars. We have a grocery store now and you’re in safe, housing”
State Rep. Christian Mitchell (D-26th) thanked Bonner and Dowell for getting the project done and added, “The grocery store brings access to healthier food options, which saves on health care costs and people living longer.”
Robert Vaughn, PCC chairman and husband of the late Chicago Teachers Union President, Jacqueline Vaughn, spoke on behalf of the PCC Board of Directors saying the celebration is of special importance because they’ve extending the life of much needed affordable housing and now have grocery store in the community.
Upon completion of the 24 units currently under construction, the PGSC campus will have two more developments that need rehabbing.
“We hope to begin construction on the next developments which comprise 190 senior units and 96 family units in the near future,” Vaughn said. “We are proud that we have been in the development and management of government-assisted housing for more than 40 years and at a time when affordable housing units are not keeping pace with need.
“As a resident it is the best place to live, It is a dream to live on this campus, the center takes every measure to provide the best housing facility for us seniors,” says Anna Ghoston a 17-year resident of Paul G. Stewart.
Funding sources for the project includes U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development; Illinois Housing Development Authority; City of Chicago’s Department of Housing and Economic Development.
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