Our Initiatives
The Coalition for Equitable Community Development is committed to an economically and racially diverse Hyde Park and Kenwood, and equitable development in the surrounding communities through these initiatives.
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Advocating for affordable housing in new developments and in surrounding communities
Photo by Steve Vance
CECD monitors new construction, and works with developers and local elected officials to ensure we receive as much affordable housing as possible. Recent developments and affordable housing:
Read the executive summary or full report of our 2013 affordable rental housing market study.
- Vue53: 10% affordable in the building, an additional 5% in 1401 E. Hyde Park Blvd.
- Solstice in the Park: 53 affordable units in the building immediately north of Solstice in the Park
- City Hyde Park: 20% affordable units in the building
- New development at 53rd and Cornell: no city benefits, no required affordable housing
Read the executive summary or full report of our 2013 affordable rental housing market study.
Creating new affordable owner-occupied housing
We are pursuing Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO) monies to create affordable, owner-occupied housing in selected communities on the south side. Under the ARO, downtown condo developers can create affordable units anywhere in the city to fulfill their affordable housing requirement. We have identified Chatham, Greater Grand Crossing, Avalon Park and Woodlawn as possible areas to create such affordable housing.
Bringing new residents to the area
The Coalition works with Housing Choice Partners (HCP) to encourage Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) voucher holders to move to Hyde Park and Kenwood. These areas have been identified as “Mobility Areas” by the CHA, allowing voucher holders better access to rental units in our neighborhood.
Research shows that low income families benefit by moving to higher opportunity areas like Hyde Park and Kenwood. These higher-opportunity areas are safer, have better schools, more amenities, and better access to jobs. We are happy to report that in the first few months of the Mobility Area program, more than 70 new families with CHA vouchers moved to Hyde Park and Kenwood.
Research shows that low income families benefit by moving to higher opportunity areas like Hyde Park and Kenwood. These higher-opportunity areas are safer, have better schools, more amenities, and better access to jobs. We are happy to report that in the first few months of the Mobility Area program, more than 70 new families with CHA vouchers moved to Hyde Park and Kenwood.
Fighting for more frequent and equitable transit service
We are members of the Coalition for a Modern Metra Electric (CMME), which is working with elected officials to make the Metra Electric lines run as a rapid transit system. This includes trains running every 10 to 15 minutes through the day and evening, and offering the same fares as the CTA in the city, with low cost transfers to CTA and Pace.
Learn more and sign the petition at the Coalition for a Modern Metra Electric.
Learn more and sign the petition at the Coalition for a Modern Metra Electric.
Researching more independent living options for seniors
We would like to see seniors who age out of their walk-up apartments and SFHs in Hyde Park/Kenwood have an opportunity to stay in the community. Middle-income seniors fall into a gap between the low-income senior facilities offered by the CHA and the more expensive option of Montgomery Place.
We are researching the feasibility of a building for moderate income seniors: an independent living facility of about 100 units with elevators, laundry facilities on each floor, a community room, outdoor space, and parking. A research study commissioned by CECD in 2015 suggested sufficient demand for such a facility.
We are researching the feasibility of a building for moderate income seniors: an independent living facility of about 100 units with elevators, laundry facilities on each floor, a community room, outdoor space, and parking. A research study commissioned by CECD in 2015 suggested sufficient demand for such a facility.
Resources
- Read the executive summary or full report of our 2013 affordable rental housing market study.
- Read our 2015 study about demand for a senior independent living facility.
