Island Terrace Apartments, Chicago, IL

Island Terrace is an existing 21 story, 240-unit affordable apartment building in the Woodlawn Neighborhood providing 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units for a variety of family sizes. The building was originally designed by architect John Moutoussamy of Dubin, Dubin, Black and Mountoussamy who was one of the first African-American architects to become partner at a major firm. The building was originally developed as part of federal efforts to provide affordable housing in the post-World War II era and remains an affordable building to this day.

The Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) purchased the building and initiated a renovation to repair and upgrade the building to ensure the building can continue to serve the community as an affordable and comfortable housing option for decades to come. This new work includes demolishing the existing run-down parking garage and replacing it with new surface parking, stormwater detention, a recreation area complete with a playground for tenants, and ample bike parking options both indoors and outdoors for tenants to use. The ground floor is being expanded and reorganized to include a new community room, an expanded and accessible property management office, an enlarged laundry room, and accessible mail and package areas. The residential units are undergoing a facelift with new kitchens, bathrooms, and finishes to replace outdated and run-down existing finishes. The building exterior is undergoing improvements that include new energy-efficient windows, a new energy-efficient roof and insulation, as well as repairs to the existing masonry and precast façade elements that have deteriorated over the years. The renovation of Island Terrace utilizes IHDA and DOH funding and is obtaining Enterprise Green Certification.

Woodlawn, Chicago, IL

Status

In Progress

Units

245

Client

POAH

Consultants