A $30 million Project for creating a LGBTQ-friendly senior housing and artist live/work space is being proposed for the corner of Ashland Avenue and Howard street. This project, proposed by the Alden Foundation and Artspace, would bring 81 apartments to the city-owned lot that currently is home a community garden, according to a report in Block Club Chicago.
Artspace is a Minneapolis-based company that focuses on finding affordable units for artists. The Alden Foundation is a senior living development group. Both of these groups have met with 49th ward Alderman Maria Hadden about their plans.
Alden Executive Director Beth Demes told Block Club Chicago that the plan is “marrying our two missions together. This project is really innovative, and I think it’s uniquely suited to Rogers Park.”
The five-story building will have two wings, one for the senior living center and one for the artist’s space. Sixty-five apartments will be for seniors aged 55 and older, and 15 apartments will be for artists. The plans include 34 parking spaces.
Rent for the apartments will vary from $358 to $1,400. Twelve apartments will be set aside for people who have housing vouchers allowing the seniors to pay 30 percent of their income to their rent.
The developers hope to begin work in the spring of 2021, and to have the building move-in ready by summer 2022.
I am a 81 yr. old senior, gay, artist with section 8 voucher good for 2 bedroom. I desire to get on the waiting list for the new senior / artist project to be at Ashland and Howard.as soon as possible. I presently rent a sec. 8 apt. at Touhy and Greenview.