Senator Dick Durbin and city leaders unveil new state-of-the-art housing development

On Friday, May 17, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin joined Chicago city leaders and members of the Hispanic Housing Development Corporation to cut the ribbon on a new state-of-the-art affordable housing development in Humboldt Park.

The $40 million nine-story apartment building features 64 units, with 40 three-bedroom apartments, 15 two-bedroom apartments, and nine one-bedroom units. The multi-use complex is designed for multi-family housing, and includes a gym, parking garage, rooftop deck, laundry facilities, and a bike room.

The complex has been named the Pedro Albizu Campos Apartments, in honor of the Puerto Rican intellectual and activist who was a leading figure in the Puerto Rican Independence movement. The apartments were made possible through funding from multiple city agencies including the Chicago Housing Authority and the Illinois Housing Development Authority.

The project marks a step forward for the surrounding Humboldt Park community, a historically Puerto Rican neighborhood adversely impacted by the effects of gentrification. With the additional affordable housing in Chicago, city and state leaders aim to combat community displacement in Chicago, allowing longtime residents to remain in the neighborhood they call home.

Senator Durbin and other city leaders gave remarks at the ribbon cutting ceremony, highlighting the impact of the new housing development on the surrounding community. “It’s more than a building”, said Senator Durbin, “This building is a symbol of the values of the people who live in this neighborhood, of what it means to be from this part of Chicago.”