LISC ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 31ST ANNUAL CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT AWARDS

LISC ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 31ST ANNUAL CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT AWARDS

Celebration Honored the People and Projects Creating Community Spaces and Driving Lasting Change Across Chicago

CHICAGO– LISC is proud to announce the winners of the 31st Annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards (CNDAs), the city’s premier celebration of community-driven transformation. Held at Radius, a live music venue in the heart of Pilsen, on June 26, the event drew more than 700 civic leaders, residents, artists, architects, developers, and elected officials and honored how culture, creativity, and local leadership helps cities grow equitably.

This year’s theme, “The Voices of Chicago,” highlighted the power of culture, creativity, and local leadership in building vibrant communities. Inspired by the role that music and gathering spaces play in fostering connection and identity, the theme uplifted the artists, organizers, and community builders who are turning space, sound, and storytelling into tangible progress.

“The Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards have always been about honoring the people who know their communities best,” said Meghan Harte, Senior Executive Director, LISC. “This year’s awardees are creating housing, reclaiming spaces, and driving progress that reflects the history, resilience, and identity of their neighborhoods. Their efforts reflect what this work is really about: strengthening neighborhoods from within and ensuring they remain places where people can build their lives.”

From housing to health, this year’s winners demonstrated the power of local vision to drive lasting change. In Uptown, Mercy Housing Lakefront preserved 68 affordable apartments for low-income families. On the Southwest Side, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council trained resident Promotoras de Salud to deliver trusted healthcare information, block by block. In Rogers Park, North Side Housing & Supportive Services opened a homeless shelter that prioritizes dignity and long-term stability. And at The Chicago Lighthouse in the Illinois Medical District, Brinshore Development created the Foglia Residences, a first-of-its-kind housing model tailored for residents who are visually impaired.

Each awardee reflected what’s possible when grassroots vision meets long-term commitment—from reactivating vacant buildings to expanding access to housing, health, and opportunity. Radius served as a fitting backdrop and living example of how reinvestment in place can spark local energy and economic growth.

“The Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards honor the heart and soul of our city—the residents, organizers, and developers who are transforming communities from within,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “This year’s honorees reflect the resilience, creativity, and collaboration that define Chicago. Their work is not only revitalizing our built environment, but also strengthening the sense of belonging and opportunity in every neighborhood. I commend LISC for its enduring commitment to equity and community-led progress across our city.”

The 31st Annual CNDA winners include:

The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Architectural Excellence in Community Design:

First Place: Papageorge Haymes Architects for Hispanic Housing Development Corporation’s Pedro Albizu Campos Apartments

Second Place: Canopy for The Starling

Third Place: Canopy for Latinos Progresando Community Center

The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Community Design Impact Award: Ann Lui, Future Firm

The Richard M. Daley Friend of the Neighborhood Award: Lori Healey

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Creative Places Award: South Side Sanctuary

The Polk Bros. Foundation Affordable Rental Housing Preservation Award: Mercy Housing Lakefront for the Carlton Apartments

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Healthy Community Award: Brighton Park Neighborhood Council for the Promotoras de Salud

The Outstanding Non-Profit Real Estate Development Award: North Side Housing & Supportive Services’ Rogers Park Homeless Shelter

The For-Profit Real Estate Development Award: Brinshore Development for the Foglia Residences at The Chicago Lighthouse

The Chicago Community Trust Outstanding Community Plan Award: Latinos Progresando for the Marshall Square Resource Network Impact Report: A Blueprint for Community Investment

This year’s CNDA sponsors include Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen, Associated Bank, Bank of America, Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation, BMO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Brinshore, Chicago Architecture Center, Chicago Community Loan Fund, Chicago Community Trust, Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, CIBC, Clayco, Community Investment Corporation, Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres, Enterprise Community Partners, Evergreen Real Estate Group, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, Fifth Third Bank, Ginsberg Jacobs LLC, Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation, The Habitat Company, Hispanic Housing Development Corporation, IFF, Illinois Housing Council, JPMorgan Chase, LBBA, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, P.C., National Equity Fund, North Lawndale Employment Network, Northern Trust, Old National Bank, PNC, The Polk Bros. Foundation, Pritzker Traubert Foundation, Providence Bank & Trust, SB Friedman Development Advisors, LLC, Self-Help Federal Credit Union, Southwest Organizing Project, State Farm Insurance, Stifel, Teska Associates, The Michaels Organization, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, Wight & Company, and Wintrust.

Learn more about the CNDA’s, please visit: www.lisc-cnda.org.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

STARR Community Services International, Inc.