Heartland Housing and the Center on Halsted are in the final months of realizing their goal of combined senior housing and a senior center to serve the LGBTQ and allied community. The first units are expected to be occupied by end of August or early September 2014.
The Chicago Housing Authority is currently reviewing existing applications for potential residents, and after that is done the Center on Halsted will interview their clients' applications.
In a tour of the facility April 18, Center on Halsted CEO Modesto Valle proudly showed off the various parts of the buildings, one totally new, the other in the renovated Town Hall police station, at the corner of Addison and Halsted.
Additional photo spread at the link: Article Link Here
The public entrance to the buildings will be from Addison street, which opens into a foyer and community space open to all. Further north is the entrance to the brand new building which will house 79 residential units, both studio and one bedroom, for seniors. The one bedrooms can accommodate two people if requested and approved.
The second floor of the old police station will be a kitchen, living room, exercise room, case management offices and community space for residents, and then to the north are the seven floors of commercial space, apartments and offices. Along the east side of the housing complex will be a terrace along the entire front, on top of the commercial space.
In June of 2011, Center on Halsted announced plans with Heartland Alliance to build the Midwest's first affordable LGBTQ Senior Housing facility on the lot adjacent to the Center, which itself opened in 2007. The first floor of the housing building has commercial space in the front, a lobby, and then parking for residents behind in a large enclosed garage.
Heartland Housing are the experts in building affordable housing, and they will operate the housing portion, Valle said. The Center will provide the wrap-around and supportive services, in addition to moving the senior services from next door at the Center on Halsted.
All of the units have kitchens and bathrooms, with shared laundry on each floor. They are for independent-living, and all are for those needing affordable housing. The rents will be subsidized, and will be based on average rents in the neighborhood.
"A lot of the units were designed and informed by the seniors at Center on Halsted," Valle said.
Construction began in June 2013. They have stripped the police station down to the bricks, and may leave some of those exposed. They are also returning the tin ceilings that were removed during construction and mold abatement. They are going for "Silver" certification for LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environment.
Valle said the dream for a senior facility started 10 years ago when they were first looking to open an LGBT community center. They knew that other properties might become available for expansion of services, including the Town Hall police station, which is why the location of the Center, at 3656 N. Halsted, was chosen.
For more information or how to apply for an apartment, contact Megan Jackson or Jonathan Tague, Senior Services Case Managers at mjackson@centeronhalsted.org or jtague@centeronhalsted.org or by calling 773-472-6469. See Article Link Here .
Videos below by Tracy Baim/Windy City Times
Chicago LGBTQ Senior Housing, Outside view, Part 1 of 6
youtu.be/Oc96K7d65-M .
Chicago LGBTQ Senior Housing, First floor of center, Part 2 of 6
youtu.be/1ktFO-UfNP0 .
Chicago LGBTQ Senior Housing, Second floor of center, Part 3 of 6
youtu.be/Pitu-xtsc5A .
Chicago LGBTQ Senior Housing, Commercial Space, Part 4 of 6
youtu.be/W_2ymLoMGS8 .
Chicago LGBTQ Senior Housing, Apartments, Part 5 of 6
youtu.be/QAIXwOrWwjw .
Chicago LGBTQ Senior Housing, More apartments, Part 6 of 6
youtu.be/TdetjSq68nQ .
