Midwest's first LGBT-friendly affordable senior housing development opens
Sat. October 11, 2014 8:06 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
chicago’s first lgbt-friendly affordable senior housing development opened oct. 10, 2014
photo credit // anthony meade
Center on Halsted and Heartland Housing introduced new LGBT-friendly affordable senior housing development to the community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 10.
Chicago, IL -
Center on Halsted and Heartland Housing officially opened Town Hall Apartments, the Midwest's first LGBT-friendly affordable senior housing development, during a ribbon-cutting on Friday.
"When Tom [Tunney] came to see me and I first got elected, I said 'what's our No. 1 goal?' He said this building," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who spoke at a press conference attended by 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney, Heartland Housing Executive Director Michael Goldberg, Center on Halsted CEO Modesto Tico Valle, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney, Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) CEO Michael Merchant, and Town Hall Apartments resident Eva Skye.
Heartland Housing, a nonprofit specializing in affordable housing, collaborated with the Center on Halsted to bring the six-story affordable LGBT housing center to Boystown. The building, which is the former historic 23rd District Town Hall Police Station, contains 79 LGBT-affirming studio and one-bedroom units.
The facility, located at 3600 N. Halsted, features community space for residents, an exercise room and commercial space. Heartland Housing will manage the property and seniors living in the building will be connected to services through Center on Halsted. The complex will be LGBT-friendly, not LGBT-exclusive.
"What we've tried to do is to make sure seniors are able live work and play in the community they grew up in," said Ald. Tunney. "So, they know the shop keepers, they know the street, they're familiar and they're safe."
Ald. Tunney was instrumental in winning approval for the $24 million project from the Chicago Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners in 2012. Construction began in June 2013.
Related: ?Ribbon cutting at LGBTQ-friendly senior apartments (Windy City Times)
"When Tom [Tunney] came to see me and I first got elected, I said 'what's our No. 1 goal?' He said this building," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who spoke at a press conference attended by 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney, Heartland Housing Executive Director Michael Goldberg, Center on Halsted CEO Modesto Tico Valle, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney, Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) CEO Michael Merchant, and Town Hall Apartments resident Eva Skye.
Heartland Housing, a nonprofit specializing in affordable housing, collaborated with the Center on Halsted to bring the six-story affordable LGBT housing center to Boystown. The building, which is the former historic 23rd District Town Hall Police Station, contains 79 LGBT-affirming studio and one-bedroom units.
The facility, located at 3600 N. Halsted, features community space for residents, an exercise room and commercial space. Heartland Housing will manage the property and seniors living in the building will be connected to services through Center on Halsted. The complex will be LGBT-friendly, not LGBT-exclusive.
"What we've tried to do is to make sure seniors are able live work and play in the community they grew up in," said Ald. Tunney. "So, they know the shop keepers, they know the street, they're familiar and they're safe."
Ald. Tunney was instrumental in winning approval for the $24 million project from the Chicago Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners in 2012. Construction began in June 2013.
Related: ?Ribbon cutting at LGBTQ-friendly senior apartments (Windy City Times)