By: Ashmar Mandou

City of Chicago officials alongside Ald. Jeannette Taylor (20th), Department of Housing (DOH) Commissioner Lissette Castañeda, the Chicago Community Trust, Caledon Partners, the Blackwood Group, and new residents to cut the ribbon on the newly completed United Yards 1A affordable housing development at 4703 S. Justine St. in Back of the Yards.

In addition to offering affordable homes that support community members, the completed project also houses retail space designed with local businesses in mind and community resource facilities including a technology training and business support center targeting entrepreneurial youth. “Our diverse and local team is incredibly proud to celebrate the completion of United Yards 1A and to bring long-awaited, high-quality housing to the Back of the Yards,” said Aron Weisner of Celadon Partners. “We are very grateful for our partners within the City of Chicago and the 20th Ward for standing with us through this process.”

Led by Celadon Partners, LLC and Blackwood Development Partners, LLC United Yards 1A is the second of three phases of the broader United Yards development that is bringing new investment to formerly vacant and underdeveloped spaces in Back of the Yard. “This milestone reflects years of collaboration among community stakeholders and our public and private partners to create a development that responds to neighborhood priorities,” said Jose Duarte of Blackwood Group.

The development includes 17 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, and 15 three-bedroom homes serving households earning between 15 and 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). Twelve units are supported by the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund to serve households at 15 and 30 percent AMI.  The City supported the $46 million project by providing up to $25 million in tax-exempt bonds, approximately $14.5 million in TIF funds, and Chicago Recovery Plan resources. “This is for the grocery store worker, at El Guero on 47th. This is for the worker taking your order at S2 Grill on Halsted. It’s for the bus aides at Hamline Elementary School,” said DOH Commissioner Lissette Castañeda. “This project ensures that, even as we grow our community, those workers who call this neighborhood home will not get left behind.”