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CHICAGO — Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson and City officials joined developer Citizens Building a Better Community (CBBC) to break ground on seven two-flats in North Lawndale, the first of 115 market rate units planned for construction in the community through the Department of Planning and Development’s (DPD) Missing Middle infill housing initiative. The neighborhood repopulation strategy is leveraging City land and financing to facilitate construction of contemporary, medium-density housing that has become “missing” from South and West Side communities as a result of decades of disinvestment. 

“Today we take another step forward in our mission to rapidly build new homes and invest in the neighborhoods where Chicago’s families live, grow, and plant roots,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “As we continue to confront the housing crisis head-on, initiatives like Missing Middle address the critical disparities that exist in access to homeownership. With each project, we demonstrate what’s possible when government and community come together to lay the foundation for a more equitable and thriving city.” 

The $5.4 million project is transforming seven formerly-vacant City lots on the 1400 and 1500 blocks of South Trumbull and Homan Avenues and the 3300 block of West Douglas Boulevard into homes that will be marketed to buyers earning up to 140% of the area’s median income—$134,400 for a two-person household. 

Missing Middle provides City lots for $1 and up to $150,000 per unit in funds made available by Mayor Johnson’s $1.25 Housing and Economic Development Bond to help developers create homes with purchase prices that are commensurate with market rates. 

Four additional Missing Middle projects are anticipated to break ground in North Lawndale early this year led by minority-led developers Alteza Group, Westside Community Group, Beauty for Ashes and Sunshine Management. Selected in January 2025 along with CBBC through a DPD Request for Proposals (RFP) process, the five projects collectively include 40 multi-unit buildings valued at more than $37 million. 

“Missing Middle is a fast-track repopulation and wealth-building strategy that’s underway less than a year after developers were selected through the RFP,” said DPD Commissioner Ciere Boatright. “That’s how we cut the tape. That’s how we revitalize neighborhoods. And that’s how we create wealth-building opportunities for local buyers.” 

A second round of selected proposals in Chatham, South Chicago and Morgan Park are creating 101 units across 31 buildings valued at $38.8 million.  

Developer selections for a third round of Missing Middle projects in McKinley Park, West Garfield Park and East Garfield Park are expected by the spring.  

Mayor Johnson remains committed to delivering more affordable homes and projects which build up communities in North Lawndale and neighborhoods across Chicago. Mayor Johnson has put the construction of a larger, more diverse housing stock and more affordable homes at the center of his strategy to make Chicago more affordable for working people. 

More information about the program and selected projects is available on the Missing Middle website. 

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