CITY OF CHICAGO AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM BREAK GROUND ON INVEST SOUTH/WEST DEVELOPMENT IN BACK OF THE YARDS

 

CITY OF CHICAGO AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM BREAK GROUND ON INVEST SOUTH/WEST DEVELOPMENT IN BACK OF THE YARDS   

United Yards will include new and improved retail spaces, health clinic, brew pub and affordable housing options  

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Ald. Jeanette Taylor joined New City stakeholders to start construction on United Yards, a $58M mixed-use project that will revitalize the heart of the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Being developed by Celadon Blackwood Limited Partnership through the Mayor’s INVEST South/West initiative, the project includes multiple new and rehabilitated commercial and residential buildings near the 47th and Ashland intersection.   

"This groundbreaking marks yet another milestone in our INVEST South/West journey to revitalize our underserved neighborhoods," Mayor Lightfoot said. "The economic activity, job opportunities, health care, and housing options that United Yards is bringing to New City will catalyze future investment in the surrounding community for years to come. I've been proud to work with my team and deliver these kinds of transformative projects across the South and West sides over the last four years."   

United Yards’ $17.9M first phase includes the adaptive re-use of a former Goldblatt’s showroom at 4700 S. Ashland Ave. as a 15,000-square-foot, federally qualified health center, which will provide primary care services, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Approximately 7,200 square feet will be used as retail space for La Selva Apparel Company, Back of the Yards Coffee, Back of the Yards Barbershop, and Aracely's Bakery.    

The first phase also includes construction of a 6,500-square-foot building at 1641 W. 47th St. that will be anchored by Somos Monos Cerveceria.     

Made possible by $5M in Tax Increment Financing by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD), United Yards’ first phase is expected to generate 40 permanent full-time jobs.   

“In addition to serving the area’s health care needs, this investment will provide opportunities for neighborhood residents to shop, convene, and enjoy their neighborhood,” DPD Commissioner Maurice Cox said.    

The project’s $40M second phase includes a 51-unit affordable apartment building with a 7,000-square-foot technology training center for minority entrepreneurs at 1515 W. 47th St., and a pair of affordable three-flats at 4706-08 S. Marshfield Ave. All phase two residential units will be affordable for tenants earning up to 60% of the area median income.    

Initial work on both of United Yards’ first two phases is underway and expected to be completed by the end of 2024.    

United Yards’ third phase will include the mixed-use rehabilitation of the three-story “Rainbow” commercial building at 4701 S. Ashland Ave.    

“On behalf of the residents of the 20th Ward, neighbors in Back of the Yards and New City, I am excited to see United Yards come to fruition as the project begins to fulfill a need for more affordable housing and increases employment opportunities for 20th Ward residents,” Ald. Jeanette Taylor said (20th). “This project also provides future INVEST South/West projects with a viable template for community-driven development that can be replicated across the rest of the city. Although it wasn’t always easy, I appreciate the United Yards and Back of the Yards team and the Department of Planning and Development’s efforts to adapt our Ward’s development process and include residents’ voices in the pre-development stages of this project.”     

 United Yards was announced by Mayor Lightfoot in August 2021 as the winning response to a DPD Request for Proposals. It is among the largest community-led, mixed-use projects moving forward through the INVEST South/West initiative, which is coordinating more than $2.2B in public and private investments across the South and West sides.    

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