Lake Pulaski Transit Village - Rail~Volution

Lake Pulaski Transit Village

Bethel New Life26 year old faith based community development corporation on Chicago’s low income, African American west side (EZ Community)Holistic approach to people & place based developmentBrought in over $120 million new investment, developed over 1,200 units of affordable housing, placed over 7,000 people in jobs$14.5 million budget, 345 employeesBuilding a healthier, sustainable community

Bethel New Life, Inc.www.bethelnewlife.org


Origins of a PlanThreat to close transit line struggle led to transit oriented development plan and seeing transit stop as an assetStruggle -partnering with other groups to save the Green Line-learned importance of transit; help of CNT and NCBGSuccessful protest led to Bethel’s next steps of TOD development at a devastated corner in our community-saw it with new eyes as an asset and opportunity



Plan: Smart growth in an urban community contextParticipatory planningFocused village conceptGreening and parksEnergy efficiencyTraffic calmingAffordable housingBrownfield redevelopmentCommercial developmentOther (day care, schools, jobs, etc.)


WHAT WE WANT IN A COMMUNITY

•Mixed income, diverse-community of choice•Everything in walking distance (stores, schools, homes, churches, public transportation, offices)•Sense of place and spaces/opportunities to meet neighbors


Phase One: HousingWalking distance transitEnergy efficient ($200 a year heating costs)Focused area developmentGreeningAffordable: design, subsidies, operationsHsg. Counseling, IDA’s and workshops70 built, 100 more planned



The Plan, The SiteMajor transit intersectionVillage with housing, commercial, industrialHeart of Bethel areaBethel buys up land on tax sales, market when availableLocation, location, location



Affordable Housing ComponentsDesign, energy efficiencyLocation, density, # built at one timeLocation efficient mortgages, energy efficient mortgages; in walking distance to transit stopSubsidies –construction, down payment



Other ComponentsTraffic calming circlesPocket parksBicycle racksRelationship to schools, jobs, shoppingEnergy efficient, location efficientSense of community



Transit Center100 child day care centerEmployment CenterCommunity technology centerSix commercial storefronts (1,000-16,000 s.f.) - Subway franchise, coffee shop (local owners), Attorney General’s Office, Community Savings Center (bank branch, financial education, tax preparation)


Lake Pulaski Transit VillageEconomic Impact

Three local small businesses (dry cleaners, Subway, Coffee Shop) started or expanded Attorney General’s Office of Consumer FraudCommunity Savings Center: Park National Bank, BNL, Thrivent- IDA program, new products,financial counseling, tax preparationOver 75 new jobs created


Smart Green BuildingPhotovoltaic cellsGreen (living roof)SuperinsulationAuto light dimmers, light wells, skylightsHRU system, efficient HVACRecycled materialsBridge to the transit platformLEED Gold rating applied for



Partners - FundersCity Dept. of Environment Empowerment ZoneState-DCEO, Senator, EnvironmentArgonne Nat. LaboratoryIllinois Clean Energy FundCommonwealth EdisonU. S. BankNew Markets Tax CreditsMatanky Realty; Farr Associates



Building Costs$4,886,000 million excluding the cost of the bridge to the train platformUsed New Markets Tax Credits for low take out of construction financing.Environmental issues added costs to the building



ChallengesUST’s $ of removal; water contaminationTrade-offs: LEED benefits; costs, paperwork,timeTiming - various parties build houses first to expand the “market” potentialMBE/WBE/local - 51%Bank financing - risk quotient


Lake Pulaski Village

Partnering for Changing Financial Practices


AdviceOutside the box - more time and $Long, hard struggleCommunity involved early-all aspects; be a stakeholderCommunity benefits - links to jobs (lst source hiring agreements)Government role, attitude importantGive away the gloryEyes on the prize


Lake Pulaski Transit Village - Rail~Volution

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