Habitat

We're thrilled to announce two major milestones at OC Living, part of the transformative $200 million #OgdenCommons project in North Lawndale! On September 19, alongside Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and an incredible team of partners, we cut the ribbon on the first OC Living residential phase - a huge step forward in bringing much-needed #affordablehousing to Chicago's West Side. With 92 units, 90% of which are affordable, this building is already helping make the community more vibrant and accessible. But the excitement didn’t stop there. We also broke ground on #OCLiving Phase 2, which will deliver 75 more units - 82% of them affordable. This phase is just the next step in #Habitat's commitment to reinvesting in #NorthLawndale and creating housing that supports safety, equity, and opportunity for all. We’re proud to be part of this incredible transformation and can’t wait to see what’s next! Visit www.oclivingchicago.com to learn more about North Lawndale's newest development!

On September 5th, we gathered at The Ivy Room for Habitat's #AnnualCelebration! This incredible event was spent recognizing the year's successes, honoring #teammembers celebrating 5+ years with Habitat, and debuting our annual themed video showcasing team members celebrating 25+ years (you can watch that here: https://lnkd.in/gVH6m9En) With team members spread across 70 properties, three business lines, and three states, it's not often we get to be together in such a big group—so when we do, it's always a special time! We enjoyed incredible food, great company, and the chance to reconnect with team members from near and far. Watch our highlight video for a glimpse of what it's like to be part of the #Habitat team. We’re already looking forward to next year

We received some pretty breathtaking nighttime footage of Kingsbury Plaza courtesy of Alex Brown, and we would be remiss not to share this all over the internet! This nighttime capture and the reflections of the sunset on the Chicago skyline are simply stunning. You think the outside is beautiful? Just wait until you see what’s inside. Come visit us at Kingsbury Plaza and experience true luxury. https://lnkd.in/gyrTtWFN Find Alex and more of his work on Instagram at @aerialbyalex or by clicking https://lnkd.in/gty6M8_3 📽✨

Every year we get together to celebrate our Habitat team members, and every year we unveil a video highlighting team members celebrating their 25, 30, and 35+ year anniversaries with us. Working with Flow Motion Media, Inc's Josh Stone & Rachel Ehrenberg is always a wonderful experience, but they have truly outdone themselves with this year's video. We may be a little biased, but we think this is far & away the best video we've ever done! We introduce you to Habitat's 11 (imitated, of course, after Ocean's 11!) as they band together for one final job. Give it a watch as we celebrate the following team members that make up Habitat's 11 (and for their many years of contributions to the Habitat team): Celebrating 25 Years: 1. Lavell Watson: 30 E Huron 2. Jose Loza: Long Grove House 3. Anna Lu: Chicago Regional Office 4. Sandra Irwin: Chicago Regional Office 5. Vasco Grigorov: Columbus Plaza Celebrating 30 Years: 6. Malcolm Griffin: Riverside Village 7. Ariel [Harry] Santiago: 400 E Randolph 8. Ray Griffin: Jade Garden Apartments 9. Exiquio Camacho: Pines of Edgewater II 10. Brian Weber: Chicago Regional Office Celebrating 35 Years: 11. Alfredo Arciga: 30 E Huron

In a recent feature by the Chicago Sun-Times, Charlton P. Hamer, Senior Vice President of the #HabitatAffordableGroup, highlighted the pressing issues facing Chicago's #housingmarket. Hamer discussed the challenges of developing affordable housing, noting that building costs for affordable units can be just as high, if not higher, than market-rate properties. “I like that housing is at the forefront. There’s an acknowledgment of this #housingcrisis — that’s what it is,” said Hamer. He further explained, “There’s some things that we can do right now — without spending — from a policy standpoint, or a reduction in requirements and scrutiny, that can make things more efficient [and] produce more housing.” Hamer emphasized the importance of policy adjustments that could streamline construction processes and enhance efficiency without additional spending. His insights shed light on the need for innovative solutions and comprehensive strategies to address Chicago's housing shortage and improve #accesstoaffordablehousing for all residents. Read more about Charlton Hamer's thoughts on tackling the city's housing challenges at https://lnkd.in/gK4Vcxyg

We're thrilled to announce a major milestone in the redevelopment of #LeClaireCourts on Chicago's Southwest Side! #Habitat, in partnership with Cabrera Capital Partners, has secured a $27 million capital loan from the Chicago Housing Authority to kick off the first phase of this transformative project. Scheduled to break ground in spring 2025, this initial phase will bring 183 #mixedincome apartments to the area, with 90% designated as affordable. The development will also include a 14,000-square-foot early childhood center, retail space, and a host of resident amenities. Fitness centers and community rooms will be part of the resident amenities, as well as a rooftop apiary to enhance urban biodiversity, foster environmental sustainability, provide fresh honey for residents, and offer educational opportunities for families! We're reimagining LeClaire Courts as a vibrant community hub that will offer not just housing but also essential services, retail, and recreational spaces, all designed to foster a thriving, inclusive neighborhood. Read the full press release and learn more about this exciting journey at https://lnkd.in/gYEhvrpT

Our #HabitatTeam had a wonderful time at Cara Chicago's #2024SummerSocial! Our partnership with Cara means so much to the Habitat team, having provided over 1,000 jobs to more than 400 Cara participants since the onset of our partnership in 2009! Our team understands that giving people a second chance not only to make a living, but to make a life, is powerful. The various positions our partnership with Cara has helped place include administrative, social services, service technicians, assistant managers, and more. It was an honor for our team to have the opportunity to attend the annual Summer Social, hear from this year's honored guest, Vlad, and mingle with other Cara partners & guests. We can't wait for the next event!

Last week, the #HabitatCondoSummit was an outstanding success, bringing together a vibrant community of condo board members, industry experts, and thought leaders. We were honored to host an exceptional lineup of esteemed speakers who shared their invaluable insights on a range of crucial topics. Our speakers were Todd Walter from Reserve Advisors, Peter Santangelo & Frankie Sorrentino, CMCA from Wintrust Bank, and David Sugar & James Stevens from Saul Ewing LLP. From the necessity of #reservestudies for effective budgeting, to financing strategies for capital improvements, and the latest legal updates affecting condo #budgeting, our speakers delivered compelling presentations that left attendees equipped with knowledge and actionable takeaways. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the board members who attended and actively participated, contributing to the dynamic discussions and networking opportunities. Your engagement and dedication are what make events like these so impactful. Thank you for making the Habitat Condo Summit an event to remember. We look forward to continuing this tradition of excellence in the years to come! A tremendous thank you & shout out to Shruti Kumar, CPM ® & Michael Sanchez for making this event possible! #reservestudy #budget #condominiummanagement

(ETOD) stands for Equitable Transit-Oriented Development.  43 Green is a development that fulfills this vision; enabling all people regardless of income, race, ethnicity, age, gender, immigration status or ability to experience the benefits of a pedestrian-oriented development near transit.  Habitat and P3 Markets joined forces to help bring this project to life. 43 Green was recognized by LISC Chicago at the 2024 CNDA Awards. #CNDA30 #Equity #WhyVideo https://lnkd.in/g8cVZFGy

Witness the incredible impact of our #NationalDayofService! 🌟 Our #HabitatTeam volunteers worked diligently to sort and repack food, making a real difference in our communities. Check out our official video to see the teamwork and dedication in action, and how we helped provide 35,663 meals to those in need across Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota. 🙌 #HabitatVolunteers #CommunityImpact #DoingMoreTogether https://lnkd.in/gHpKBvkc