Groundbreaking for Ravenswood Senior Living

February 7, 2020Affordable, Senior Living

Mike, Keith, and Albert represented WJW at the groundbreaking ceremony held for Ravenswood Senior Living on January 23^rd, 2020.

Remarks at the ceremony were given by a number of dignitaries: Alderman Matt Martin of Chicago’s 47^th Ward; Samir Mayekar, Deputy Mayor of Neighborhood and Economic Development with the City of Chicago; James L. Bebley, Acting CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority; James Cunningham, Deputy Regional Administrator of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Kristin Faust, Executive Director of the Illinois Housing Development Authority; Mike Griffin, Fund Manager for the National Development Council; and Stephen Sparks, Senior Vice President at Key Bank.

Located at the site of the former Ravenswood Hospital, the project will convert the vacant 9-story hospital into 119 affordable assisted living apartments and 74 affordable independent living apartments. This adaptive reuse of the building has been a significant design challenge, since a 1970’s-era hospital with deep floorplates and tall ceilings is not necessarily the most conducive to a residential use. However, the design will optimize the deep floorplates by having generously-sized units with large windows, ample storage and loft-style features. Common areas will also be larger than is typically the case in a new construction project.

Ravenswood Senior Living is one of the first developments in the country to offer both independent living and supportive living for low-income seniors in a single location, allowing residents to age in place as their needs and lives change. In order to proceed with redevelopment plans for the project, developer Evergreen Real Estate Group needed an existing state law changed in order to have the supportive living and independent housing exist in the same building.

WJW is a proud team member on the Ravenswood Senior Living project, bringing sorely needed affordable housing to the North Side and in the process, making this vacant, vandalized building a prominent and positive part of the neighborhood again.

More local coverage can be found here: https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/01/27/overhaul-of-former-ravenswood-hospital-will-preserve-part-of-original-building/