We demand 100% Affordable Housing at 18th and Peoria
For over two decades, Pilsen community residents have been organizing for affordable housing at 18th and Peoria. Through our constant pressure and clear stance against luxury development at the vacant lot, we now have an opportunity to help create a model development of 100% permanently affordable housing at 18th and Peoria through a community driven process.
The history of our struggle at 18th and Peoria lot has been a point of reference for our demands for affordable housing. Here is our video on the history and struggle on 18th and Peoria.
Since last year, we have been part of 25th ward stakeholder working group attending meetings and discussions with the city and their consultants regarding the vision framework for 18th and Peoria. During this time, we hosted several community events independent of the city to gather resident feedback and vision including two events on social housing and a virtual teach-in on AECOM the consultants hired by the city for 18th and Peoria beginning phase.
Due to a poorly planned process that basically ignored stakeholders and the community, we will not support any framework that does not have residents driving the process. To counter this, we have been organizing with our community.
With Pilsen resident participation and partnership with ally 25th ward stakeholders who support 100% affordable housing at 18th and Peoria, we have created our own vision framework that we want to share and support for 18th and Peoria. That framework includes:
100% permanent Affordable Housing. Absolutely no market rates
Former Pilsen residents who were displaced and current rent burdened residents get first priority for housing on 18th and Peoria
Set aside for cooperative housing.
Set aside for Social Housing Pilot. The program must be a demonstration pilot program–seek HUD funding for this.
Aim for the highest density possible without imposing highrises.
Example: Medium rise Resurrection Project buildings like Casa Maravilla (2015 S. Morgan) and Casa Puebla (2014 S. Racine)
500 units were originally proposed by ex-owners Property Markets Group
-Absolutely no townhomes!!
Must be in a land trust in perpetuity to keep it off the private market
100% ADA compliant and visitable. Go beyond the minimum ADA requirements and make the site fully accessible, including the common areas and green space.
Combine cooperatives with rentals at 30% of the median and consider rent-to-purchase leases.
A program similar to CHA’s Choose to Own program (but not controlled by CHA) where families and individuals living in 30% AMI affordable units at 18/P can decide can apply their rental costs toward ownership in a cooperative or social housing, at which point their rental unit would be transferred to the cooperative and they would become members (if ownership is something they want).
80% of the units set aside for family sized units, 3 bedrooms and more.
No housing tied to CHA lists
Open space should be interspersed throughout the development to avoid the clustering of buildings around a central space or the establishment of a park away from the buildings
To get involved with the 18th and Peoria campaign, please email us at info@thepilsenalliance.org or call us at 312-243-5440.