Skender, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and other community leaders recently celebrated the groundbreaking of Fifth City Commons – a 43-unit affordable housing complex and retail space set to transform 1.5 acres on Chicago’s West Side that had been vacant for decades.
The three-story mixed-use building will offer sustainable one-, two-, and three bedroom rental units in East Garfield Park. Skender is serving as the general contractor in a joint venture partnership with Ashlaur Construction; architects Perkins + Will and Nia; engineering firms dbHMS, Rubinos & Mesia Engineers, Omni Ecosystems, TERRA Engineering; as well as The City of Chicago providing financing through Tax Increment Financing (TIF), HOME Investment Partnership Program assistance sales tax bonds 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) tax exempt bonds. In accordance with Passive House principles the complex will be all electric featuring sustainable features such triple pane windows air sealing to lower energy needs within the building .
This project marks an important milestone for transforming this area into vibrant living spaces while creating much needed affordable housing options in East Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago’s West Side.
