Crews Behind LGBT Senior Home Break Ground in Boystown

Heartland Housing and Center on Halsted today joined with Lake View residents and elected officials to break ground on the region’s first LGBT-friendly affordable senior housing development.

“Seniors should not have to give up their friends and way of life because they’ve been priced out of the neighborhood,” said Michael Goldberg, Executive Director of Heartland Housing. “Our city is stronger when everyone has a safe place to call home, regardless of their age or income level.”

The 79-unit, $26 million development will preserve a portion of the historic 23rd district Town Hall police station while creating a new building with residential and commercial space. The units will be available to any senior in need of affordable housing, regardless of their sexual orientation.

“Lakeview has a proud history of breaking down barriers of prejudice and building up understanding and compassion. Today we continue that commitment to create a community where everyone is welcome, safe, and valued,” said Modesto “Tico” Valle, CEO of Center on Halsted.

The early-morning groundbreaking event also served as an informal kick off to Gay Pride Month.

"This is historic for the city of Chicago and the entire Midwest,” said Ald. Tom Tunney (44th). “This facility will be one of the first in the nation and it is dedicated to meeting the needs of the LGBTQ community. This will be a destination where our seniors can have a safe and accepting environment to live their lives with pride and confidence."

Center on Halsted, located adjacent to the development site, will offer resident- and community-based services for seniors who will live in the building, as well as expand its existing Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elderly program.

Once completed, Heartland Housing will manage the property. Heartland currently manages 11 affordable housing buildings throughout the city. Since its founding in 1988, Heartland Housing has developed and managed more than 1,700 affordable homes throughout the Midwest.

“Seniors are a key component of the City's affordable housing agenda and this facility will provide important resources for the ones that live in lake view," said Commissioner Andrew Mooney, Chicago Department of Housing and Economic Development.

To address the need for affordable housing for the LGBT community, Chicago officials selected Heartland Housing and Center on Halsted to develop the site in February 2012. In March 2013, the Chicago City Council transferred the land over to the Center and Heartland. Construction is expected to be complete in the fall of 2014.

Because all units are subsidized, rent will be no more than 30% of a given resident’s income.

The as-yet unnamed development is one of the first of its kind in the Midwest. Other LGBT-friendly housing developments have been created in California and Philadelphia, and more are in development throughout the country.

“From its commitment to seniors in our LGBT community to its focus on sustainability and environmentally friendly design, this project represents the best of what the Lakeview neighborhood is all about,” said Congressman Mike Quigley, an early supporter of the project. “I’m proud to have a facility like this in our district and am grateful to Heartland Alliance and Center on Halsted for their hard work making this dream come true for seniors in the area.”