HARVEST COMMONS WAS FORMERLY ONE OF THE WORST TRANSIENT HOTELS PLAGUED WITH CRIME AND UNSANITARY LIVING CONDITIONS. HEARTLAND HOUSING REHABBED THE BUILDING INTO A HISTORICALLY PRESERVED, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITH 89 UNITS FOR RESIDENTS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS.
In 1930 the Union Park Hotel opened as an “apartment hotel” for workers new to Chicago in need of temporary housing. From 1963 to the mid 2000s, under new ownership and with a new name, the Viceroy Hotel steadily fell into serious decline. The building became an epicenter for crime and unsanitary living conditions in the neighborhood. Closed and taken over by the City in 2004 the hotel sat vacant on Warren Boulevard, stripped by looters, and heavily vandalized. In 2009 Heartland Housing and First Baptist Congregational Church won the Request for Proposal and began the hard work of transforming the building into Harvest Commons.
As a landmarked Art Deco building maintaining as much historical integrity as possible was a high priority during the rehab process at Harvest Commons. Heartland Housing’s commitment to sustainability also informed many modifications to the existing structure and upon completion was certified as an Enterprise Green Community building. To encourage tenant participation in the the sustainability process and provide access to healthy food options, an on-site sustainable agriculture program was implemented.
During the integrated design process several experts from all areas of development shared ideas and concerns about safety, building maintenance, ways to foster and maintain community, and preferences for public art and general aesthetics of the shared spaces.
After years of hard work by Heartland Housing, in partnership with funders and a dedicated development team, Harvest Commons has become a brilliant example of neighborhood revitalization. The building is a place of new beginnings and hope for residents who had none.
Services Providers
- Heartland Human Care Services
- St. Leonard’s Ministries
Funders
- Illinois Housing Development Authority
- Illinois Department of Human Services
- City of Chicago Department of Housing and Economic Development
- Chicago Housing Authority
- Enterprise Community Investment
- Enterprise Community Loan Fund
- Enterprise Community Partners
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- U.S. Department of Interior
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Toyota Together Green
- National Audubon Society
Development Team
- Heartland Housing- Owner, Developer, Property Manager
- First Baptist Congregation Church- Co-owner, co-developer
- Landon Bone Baker- Architects
- Linn Mathes, Inc.- General Contractor
- Harley Ellis Devereaux – Green Consultant and Building Commissioning Authority
| 1519 W. Warren Blvd Chicago, IL 60607QUICK FACTS
|
