HOPE CENTER FOUNDATION AND COOK COUNTY LAND BANK AUTHORITY BREAK GROUND ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ROSELAND ON CHICAGO’S SOUTH SIDE

HOPE CENTER FOUNDATION AND COOK COUNTY LAND BANK AUTHORITY BREAK GROUND ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ROSELAND ON CHICAGO’S SOUTH SIDE

Groundbreaking Marks Continued Progress on Rebuilding Chicago Initiative to Bring 1,000 Affordable Homes on Chicago’s South Side

CHICAGO — The Cook County Land Bank Authority (CCLBA) and the Hope Center Foundation today celebrated the start of construction of 10 new affordable homes in the Roseland neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. The Hope Center Foundation and Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives (CNI) are proud co-developers of this transformative effort and active members of United Power for Action and Justice, a civic coalition leading the Reclaiming Chicago initiative. This bold campaign includes construction of 2,000 affordable homes citywide, including 1,000 on the South Side and 1,000 on the West Side.

Developed on vacant land provided by CCLBA, these homes in Roseland will be built within the same six-block area where 11 homes have already been built and sold by Hope Center Foundation, further advancing the Hope Center Foundation’s vision of creating 50 new homes - of which 44 lots were provided CCLBA, within a concentrated footprint in Roseland. This place-based strategy is designed to maximize community impact by fostering stability, promoting safety and helping families in disinvested neighborhoods build generational wealth.

“We are not just building homes—we’re rebuilding hope,” said Shenita T. Muse, Executive Director of the Hope Center Foundation. “By breaking ground on these 10 new homes today, we are deepening our impact and staying true to our promise to transform this Roseland neighborhood into a thriving community anchored by opportunity and ownership.”

Each of the new homes will offer 1,600 sq ft and feature three bedrooms and two bathrooms with parking. They will be affordably priced at $230,000, with $50,000 in down payment assistance available.

"Today's groundbreaking in Roseland symbolizes our collective commitment to restoring equity, opportunity and dignity in communities that have been overlooked for far too long,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. "By investing in affordable housing and empowering families to build wealth through homeownership, we are laying the foundation for a stronger Cook County."

The 10 homes will be built by Toro Construction Group and are expected to be completed in January 2026.

"The Cook County Land Bank Authority is dedicated to transforming underutilized properties and returning them to productive community use," said Jessica Caffrey, Executive Director of the Cook County Land Bank Authority. "In Roseland, we're excited to witness the revitalization of properties that have sat empty for too long. Developing affordable housing on these sites serves a dual purpose — breathing new life into the neighborhood while providing lasting housing security for local families."

Launched in 2019, Reclaiming Chicago has completed 59 homes. The next phase, which today’s groundbreaking includes, will comprise 71 homes in Roseland, Back of the Yards, and North Lawndale.

The Cook County Land Bank Authority, an independent agency of Cook County, was founded by the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 2013 to address residents and communities hit hard by the mortgage crisis. CCLBA gives local developers, community groups and potential homeowners the tools to transform their own communities from within. The Land Bank acquires properties that have sat tax-delinquent, abandoned and vacant for years and sells them at below-market rates to qualified community-based developers, who then rehab the properties. This approach not only keeps revenue and jobs in the community, but it also helps local developers grow their businesses. Learn more about the Cook County Land Bank Authority at http://www.cookcountylandbank.org or email info@cookcountylandbank.org.

The Hope Center Foundation, which is led by founder and CEO Rev. James Meeks, is a community-based nonprofit organization leading bold efforts to transform Chicago’s Far South Side through affordable housing, workforce development, and economic empowerment. As a member of United Power for Action and Justice, the Foundation is helping to drive the Reclaiming Chicago campaign.

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