BMO, Austin Coming Together, By the Hand Club for Kids and public officials are partners in the project
By Jessica Mordacq, Austin Weekly News | April 9th, 2025 (Click Here For Original Article)
Habitat for Humanity has broken ground on its first project in Austin.
On April 7, the national housing nonprofit, Austin-based partner organizations and public officials gathered at 5320 W. Ferdinand St. to celebrate the start of construction on four affordable homes there, plus three in the 400 block of North Lockwood Avenue.
All homes will be 1,800-square-foot, two-story structures. Each will have four bedrooms, a two-car garage and energy-efficient appliances.
The homes will be sold at an appraised market value, and Habitat Chicago will help homebuyers with down payment assistance and further subsidize the sale. Habitat Chicago will sell the houses through its Affordable Homeownership Program and provide financial and homeownership education.
The Lockwood Avenue homes’ foundations will be poured in late spring or early summer and are expected to be completed next spring. Then, construction will begin on Ferdinand Street, estimated to finish in spring 2027, according to Block Club Chicago.
The houses will be constructed on property that came from the Cook County Land Bank Authority, which acquires vacant and abandoned properties and makes them available for organizations to purchase. In 2020, the county government entity entered into an agreement with By the Hand Club for Kids, which bought the property from the county.
“There’s nothing more important for an abundant life than to have a healthy family. What better way to provide or promote a healthy family life than to have that family reside in a quality, stable home,” said Felicia Bullock, chief financial officer of the Austin-based, Christ-centered, after-school program for children in kindergarten through high school.
The construction is just the start of Habitat for Humanity’s effort to build affordable homes in Austin.
“When we make a commitment to a neighborhood, it’s not just the start, it’s where we’re going to go for the distance,” said Jennifer Parks, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Chicago. “It’s a marathon, and we’re going to be here for years and years to come to layer those investments.”
One of Habitat Chicago’s partner organizations, BMO, is investing $1 million over the next five years to help advance Habitat for Humanity’s work in Austin. Community partners hope that building more affordable homes will allow Austin residents to stay in their neighborhood.
“I’m looking to do, not only these lots. I’ve got my eyes on more than that because I want the residents to stay in the 37th Ward,” said Ald. Emma Mitts. “I don’t want to see people displaced.”
Mitts said she’s helped Habitat for Humanity host community meetings to inform locals about the new residences and encourage first-time home buyers to purchase these homes or future ones. Officials said they plan to advertise the new homes to legacy residents in Austin.
“If we don’t get housing right, we don’t get anything else right,” said Tara Stamps, Cook County board commissioner for the 1st District. “If we don’t house our people and make it affordable, then the job fairs, the recovery programs, the recidivism rate, our children in crises – none of that ends if our people are not housed. This is the most essential, most incredible work that we can be doing.”
Habitat in Chicago
Though Habitat for Humanity has been in Chicago for decades, its home-building efforts have been concentrated on the South Side. The organization started construction in West Pullman, where it has built 40 homes since 2012, and has also constructed residences in Greater Grand Crossing.
Though this groundbreaking marks the first Habitat for Humanity homes built in Austin, the organization has had a presence on the West Side through its neighborhood grants.
According to Parks, Habitat Chicago hopes its role in Austin will strengthen the local buying market, connect the community, elevate the neighborhood’s appeal, and enhance the physical environment – characteristics that haven’t always existed on the West Side.
Darnell Shields, executive director of Austin Coming Together, said that ACT started as lead agency in the Chicago Neighborhood Recovery Program in 2012. At that time, he said that deciding what to do with the Ferdinand Street and Lockwood Avenue properties was difficult because of public safety and housing issues. But the lots’ location near the El, Austin Town Hall Park and Levin Park is prime for families.
“Over the years, we’ve really seen some things change,” he said. “We’ve seen people mobilize and come together to be able to move something forward.”
Much of that can be attributed to growing development on Chicago’s West Side. Since ACT established its Quality of Life Plan in 2018, the nonprofit has helped attract $250 million in investments into Austin – of which this Habitat for Humanity project is one.
“I believe these achievements underscore the power of our collective action – working together [with the] city, county, state, community organizations, residents, leaders, and all of our partners,” Shields said. “Building on this momentum, our current joint efforts focus on high-quality and affordable housing options through this project.”
Shields is a member of the board of directors of Growing Community Media, the publisher of Austin Weekly News.
Such development efforts are also top-of-mind for city and county officials.
“Infill development is among the city’s top priorities for the South and West Sides. It’s projects like this that make a difference, lot by lot and block by block,” said Ciere Boatright, commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development. “DPD is supporting local projects with about $40 million in development assistance to strengthen synergies between Austin’s residential blocks and its commercial corridors.”
“When folks have access to affordable, quality housing options, they have more flexibility to support local businesses that make our neighborhoods truly unique,” said Lisette Castañeda, Chicago’s Department of Housing commissioner.
Those interested in buying a Habitat Chicago home can complete a self-assessment at habitatchicago.org/self-assessment.