Carling SRO, Chicago, IL

The Carling Hotel was an existing 155-unit single-occupancy hotel that was preserved for low-income residents in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood. It is one of 65 remaining licensed SROs in Chicago and was the first SRO sold under the 2014 SRO Preservation Ordinance, an initiative created to protect and generate funds to help preserve SROs as an affordable housing option.

The Carling SRO underwent a complete historic renovation and re-configuration of the residential floors to add bathrooms and kitchenettes to each room. The new unit count is 80 units, 20% configured for handicapped residents. The existing historic lobby was fully restored and a newly updated MEP system was installed throughout. The Carling received the 2018 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Advocacy.