Chicago Housing Authority - File #: 26-81

• File #: 26-81
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Passed
• File created: 11/26/2025
• In control: Real Estate Operations Development Committee
• On agenda: 7/21/2026
• Final action: 7/21/2026
• Enactment date: 7/21/2026
• Enactment #: 2026-CHA-31
• Title: Authorization to take actions necessary for the closing of Humboldt Village.

Date	Action By	Action	Result
7/21/2026	Board of Commissioners	approved	Pass
7/21/2026	Real Estate Operations Development Committee	approved	Pass

title

Authorization to take actions necessary for the closing of Humboldt Village.

end

Development Address	Community Area	Target Population
Humboldt Village 1417 North Talman Avenue	West Town	Families

presenter

Presenter: Kemena Brooks, Chief of Staff

Recommendation

The Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Chicago Housing Authority (“CHA”) recommends that the CHA Board of Commissioners (“Board”) authorize the CEO or his designee to: 1) submit a Rental Assistance Demonstration (“RAD”) application and financing plan for the property to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”); 2) submit a mixed-finance development proposal for the property to HUD; 3) submit evidentiary documents to HUD; and 4) execute and deliver such other documents and perform such other actions as may be necessary or appropriate to implement the foregoing.

Property Summary and Estimated Contract

Humboldt Village, 1417 North Talman Avenue, is an adaptive reuse of a former Chicago Public School building (DeDuprey/Von Humboldt) located in the West Town community area. The development will be a four-story elevator building and include 103 affordable rental homes. 

Contract Term	Total Units	RAD PBV Units	Initial Estimated Contract	Total Estimated Contract - 20 Years
RAD HAP 20 Years (with automatic renewal)	103	61	$1,143,000	$22,862,000

The requested action complies in all material respects with all applicable federal, state and local laws, and CHA policies. CHA staff has completed all necessary due diligence to support the submission of this initiative.

Funding

No CHA Capital is required.

Developer and Property Owner

The Community Builders, Inc. (“TCB”) is the selected property owner and developer. TCB has completed or preserved more than 33,000 units of affordable and mixed-income housing nationally, including CHA developments such as Southbridge 1A, Southbridge 1B, and multiple phases of Oakwood Shores.

TCB is also the proposed property manager. TCB is an Accredited Management Organization with a portfolio of over 100 properties. TCB currently manages Chicago developments such as Cornerstone Apartments, Oakley Apartments, various CHA mixed-income phases at Oakwood Shores and Shops and Lofts at 47th, and one traditional Project Based Voucher site, Canvas at Leland.

Background and Approach

RAD Project-based voucher (“PBV”) assistance is requested to subsidize up to 61 CHA units in Humboldt Village with the following bedroom mix:

•                     34 one-bedroom,

•                     17 two-bedroom, and

•                     10 three-bedroom units

CHA is only providing operating subsidy for this project and is not providing any capital funding. The project is located at an off-site location and does not involve CHA land. This 100% affordable development would serve residents at different income levels between 30% and 80% of the Area Median Income.

Humboldt Village (formerly called Teacher Village) was previously approved by the Board of Commissioner for 27 non-RAD Section 8 PBVs at the July 21, 2020 meeting, and for 61 RAD PBVs at the July 16, 2024 Board meeting. Since the 2024 approval, the lead development team for the project has changed.

RBH Group, LLC (“RBH”), and its wholly-owned subsidiary were the approved developer and property owner for the Humboldt Village development in July 2024. Since the 2024 Board approval, RBH  decided it was not in their best interest to continue with the development of the project and   have exited the deal with no ongoing interest.

On May 27, 2026, TCB re-submitted the proposal for Humboldt Village to the PBV Evaluation Committee as the developer for the project and it was approved.

The Humboldt Village development design and unit mix has not changed significantly since July 2024 Board approval. The CHA unit mix remains the same, as detailed in the table below. An example of a minor change includes one additional affordable unit being included in the project.

In addition to the 103 residences, a 2,400 square-foot office space and a 900 square-foot classroom are planned for use by the Puerto Rican Cultural Center to provide services to residents and the surrounding community.

CHA’s assistance will be provided in the form of Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) PBV assistance through HUD’s Restore-Rebuild program. The development has been awarded 4% and 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (“LIHTC”) tax credits from the City of Chicago’s Department of Housing (DOH). Pending City Council approval anticipated in September 2026, DOH is providing soft funds from Housing and Economic Development Bond and HOME funds.

The proposed change in developer and property owner was reviewed and recommended for approval by CHA’s Project-Based Voucher evaluation committee on May 27, 2026. 

The proposed unit mix is provided below:

Humboldt Village Unit Mix; CHA & Affordable
Bedrooms	CHA Units	Affordable Units	Total # of Units
Studio	0	17	17
1	34	25	59
2	17	0	17
3	10	0	10
Total	61	42	103

Property Profile

Site Plan

Timeline & Next Steps

•                     CHA Board approval - July 21, 2026.

•                     Projected Closing - Q4 2026 (October anticipated)

•                     Projected Construction Completion - Q2 2028

•                     Projected RAD PBV Conversion - Q3 2028

Respectfully Submitted:

______________________

Keith Pettigrew

Chief Executive Officer