Auburn Gresham is one of 10 priority communities selected as a part of the initial phase of Mayor Lightfoot’s INVEST South/West commercial corridor improvement strategy.
Launched in October 2019, INVEST South/West’s goal is to re-activate neighborhood cores that have historically served as focal points for pedestrian activity, shopping, services, transportation, public spaces and quality-of life amenities for local residents. In Auburn Gresham, the priority focus is the intersection of 79th Street and Ashland Avenue and adjacent blocks.
Auburn Gresham stakeholders participated in the INVEST South/West kick-off celebration in December 2019 at Kennedy-King College. The family-friendly event was one of four held this winter to launch the initiative with in-depth activities that helped participants identify priorities, goals, and key community assets.
More than 500 attendees listened to presentations about the goals and objectives of INVEST South/West, then interfaced with dozens of public agencies about opportunities to improve the community. A summary of the event, including an overview of Auburn Gresham comments and feedback, is available at right.
In spring 2020, the City formed the Auburn Gresham Neighborhood Roundtable. Consisting of representatives from city agencies, aldermanic offices neighborhood organizations, small businesses and resident groups, the roundtable seeks to advance local goals through a broad, cross-disciplinary approach that leverages the insights, wisdom, creativity and resources of local stakeholders.
The goal of the roundtables is transparency: to ensure the neighborhood voices are heard and integrated into the priorities of public and private investments, to obtain feedback on INVEST South/West projects as they advance, and to put planners at the table with neighborhood stakeholders. The roundtable will be led and facilitated by local representation, a corridor project manager, once identified.
Questions on the roundtable can be directed to DPD@cityofchicago.org.
As a part of the ongoing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) development initiative, Mayor Lightfoot and DPD announced three winning proposals in March 2021, including an affordable housing project on a large piece of vacant land near 79th and Halsted.
Evergreen Imagine JV LLC (Auburn Gresham/838 W. 79th St.)
Planned for 23,000 square feet of vacant land near the intersection of Halsted and 79th streets, the $19.4 million proposed project will create 56 units of affordable housing with ancillary ground floor retail uses and 35 parking spaces. Designed to complement the planned, Chicago Prize-winning “Healthy Hub” adaptive reuse project across the street, the complex will include private garden lots, a playground for residents, private amenities, and public open spaces. The project is expected to generate up to 100 construction jobs and three full-time positions.
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