A Mixed-Use Development Set For Roseland

A Rendering of 1Fifteen at Michigan Station. Credit Gensler and Beehyyve
A Rendering of 1Fifteen at Michigan Station. Credit Gensler and Beehyyve

A Mixed-Use Development Set For Roseland

By Tia Carol Jones

A $48.3 million mixed-use development is slated for 115th and Michigan Avenue. The Roseland-Michigan Avenue Development is a 97,000 square foot project and is being led by the Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, along with the Far South Community Development Corporation and the Hope Center Foundation. The project will consist of affordable apartments and ground floor commercial space, near the Michigan Avenue Red Line stop.

Abraham Lacy, President of the Far South Community Development Corporation, said the project is part of the organization’s Bringing Communities Back initiative, which seeks to increase density to communities that have suffered extreme population loss. Lacy said the Far South side has experienced a loss of its residential core throughout the years, especially its Black residential core. He added that along with the loss of its residential core, the city is becoming unaffordable, making way for gentrification of communities and displacement of residents.

Lacy said it has been the mission of the Far South Community Development Corporation to increase the housing density by introducing different housing types. The organization is looking to develop more single family homes, as well as more multi-family homes. He said that mixing up the housing typology is important.

“One of the unique things about the Far South side is that you can rent and you can buy in the same neighborhood,” he said.

Lacy said the organization has been pushing for mixed-use development in the Far South side, similar to places on the North side like Foster and Sheridan, in most of the major corridors. He said that kind of mixed housing typology is good for the community. He said that with the forthcoming Red Line Extension, as well as the already existing bus and rail lines, the organization is looking for more Equitable Transit Oriented Development (ETOD).

Lacy said the Roseland-Michigan Avenue Development is a way to invest in corridors with multifamily, mixed-use development near transit, as well as revitalize the commercial corridors in the community. He said within this plan there are townhomes in Phase 3, and in the surrounding areas, CNI, Hope Center Foundation, Far South and Habitat for Humanity are still building and renovating single family homes. He said the goal is for people to land in the community, without being priced out or not having the kind of housing they need for people to get on their feet.

Another essential part of the project is a grocery store. Within the boundaries of this project, there is not a full-service grocery store. Lacy said it was important to look for a grocery anchor for the project.

Phase one of the project includes 58 apartments, 23,000 square feet of retail space at the bottom with an outdoor public plaza. Phase two will include 41 units with retail at the bottom. Phase three is the park.

Lacy wanted to thank 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale for helping get things moving with the project. He said that Beale has been instrumental in getting the Roseland Medical District project going.

For more information about the Far South Community Development Corporation, visit farsouthcdc.org.


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