Chicago Politics

Earle School Apartment Grand Opening 8.26.26

Description

Mayor Brandon Johnson attends the Earle School Apartment Grand Opening.

Transcript

2:51 I'm Matt Burbach, Director of Development at Gorman & Company. We're proud to have co-developed Earl Residences in partnership with the Phoenix Foundation. Thank you all for joining us today to celebrate the grand opening. Built in 1897, the Charles Warrington Earl School served the Inglewood community for generations

3:22 with a place to learn, gather, and flourish. Today, we are proud to give this historic building a new purpose while carrying that same spirit forward. Earl Residences will now provide 50 new affordable homes where individuals and families can continue to learn, gather, and flourish. This project is about more than restoring a historic building. It's about investing in people and community.

3:55 The services provided by Phoenix Foundation are integral to that mission. Their involvement ensures this is not simply just a place to live, but a place where residents have support and opportunity to thrive. We're excited to continue investing in this neighborhood and build upon the momentum at today's grand opening. Our next project, the Regenerator, is being developed in partnership with Englewood-based non-profit Go Green Development Group.

4:36 Together, we look forward to creating another high-quality, affordable community and continuing the partnerships that made Earl Residences possible. Today, you will hear from a handful of individuals who have been instrumental in this project. Today's speakers include Alderman Raymond Lopez of the 15th Board, Mayor Brandon Johnson, Commissioner Lissette Castaneda, Charles Mayfield from Chicago Public Schools, Sherry Allen Reeves from Phoenix Foundation, Keith Pryor from Illinois Housing Development Authority, and Kara Jones from ComEd.

5:36 I would also like to recognize the partners who work tirelessly to bring Earl residences to life. Ron Kluwer, the pioneer of this project. Unfortunately, Ron could not be here, but he sends his regards. Gorman Architecture, special shout out to Dan O'Mara. Gorman Property Management, special shout out to Shea Whitcomb.

6:11 Beehive, Burling Partners, Illinois Housing Development Authority, the City of Chicago, Department of Housing, Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund, Alderwoman Stephanie Coleman, Federal Home Loan Bank, and ComEd. I feel like I almost ran out of my breath with all those partners there.

6:43 Thank you to everyone who made this project possible. And finally, please be sure to enjoy delicious food from a local restaurant, Dees, Roti, and Trini Caribbean. With that, it's my pleasure to introduce Alderman Raymond Lopez. Good morning. The mayor told me to be brief, so I only have a 20-page speech prepared for today.

7:18 But I am Alderman Raymond Lopez, and it's my honor and privilege to welcome all of you to the 15th Ward's West Englewood community, part of the greater Englewood community. In 2014, nearly 50 schools closed less than half of those closed buildings have been reactivated we are here today in what was Earl Elementary School to reactivate

7:50 repurpose and reinvigorate not only the building of Earl but the entire community that surrounds it. In 2017 at Lynn Bloom Park we had a meeting with community partners like Rage, Imagine, Englewood, If and others to say what should we do with this building? What can we do so that we don't wind up with yet another not just vacant property but a vacant reminder of what we've lost? Community came together and in that time we were able to set our vision, our

8:26 collective vision with Gorman Company to discuss what we wanted, what we envisioned, which was something that was reflective of the community and as well was respectful of where we are and where we wanted to go. What mattered and what has always mattered is very simple. You need leadership. You need clarity of purpose. And you need a commitment to community. And that is why we are here today.

8:59 three mayors and we get to open it with our mayor Brandon Johnson who joins us today who said I'm much nicer in the neighborhoods so I'm glad to have him every day of the week if he wants to come back but we've done great things together with this administration with this Department of Housing two blocks away we actually opened a few years ago Chicago House which is supportive housing for families impacted by HIV and AIDS here in Anglerwood.

9:33 We are here today to bring back affordable housing in Phase 1, by the way, because this is a multi-phase housing project here in the community, development project in the community. And then as well, we also look forward to working with this administration for a 100-unit. Housing Project in the Back of the Yards community with the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council and Craig Chico, who's standing over there as well. We can keep building together, and if that means you have to come out a few more times, I'll keep smiling when you do.

10:06 But I'm very thankful that we are all here today for what promises to be hopefully one of many such projects, not only in this community, but in all communities, because we are all Chicago. And with that, I'd like to welcome our mayor, Mayor Brandon Johnson. Thank you, Alderman Lopez, for your leadership and that endorsement for me to come back to your war.

10:39 Good morning, everyone. I am thrilled to join you all today and cut the ribbon to the Charles Earl School Apartments and celebrate 50 new housing units here in Englewood. Boy, isn't it good to have good news in Englewood? And a lot of that is happening. And while the apartments might be new, this 129-year-old building has served the Englewood community for generations. Charles Warrington Earl School, housed in this historic building, was one of the schools that was closed by a previous, previous administration.

11:19 And I remember that horrific time as a city, as many of us marched the streets and protested against this reckless act. But this ribbon cutting is a true testament of what community-driven purpose can manifest. The decision to close 50 schools, it displaced thousands and thousands of black and brown students, particularly on the south and west side of our city, the same communities that have already experienced decades of neglect and disinvestment.

11:59 The toll was more than just a logistical nightmare. It directly impacted the safety of our students, forcing them to travel long distance just to receive an education that really is a human right, crossing busier roads and unfamiliar neighborhoods and sometimes crossing into boundaries that put them at risk. So I'm grateful for people like Joseph Williams, who has shown up for our community.

12:30 Thank you for being a leader and always expressing the true meaning of what it means to bring community together. Now, this is a real, I think, profound moment for me because usually when Cecile and I are in the neighborhood, particularly around the school, we were fighting other people. It's just good to see Cecile with a smile. But thank you for your leadership and your amazing work as an organizer to bring these type of developments into fruition.

13:06 Thank you, sister. You know, this is a tight-knit community, and it's built on relationships. And because stability and consistency are so important in our young people's lives, that disruption had a detrimental and emotional toll on our students and the lives, of course, that we should all work hard to protect. The damage didn't just stop when the school doors closed.

13:38 Massive buildings were left vacant and underutilized for years, which creates and perpetuates instability in community, and it deepens the challenges that disinvestment and poverty bring about. We know that where schools have closed is where we have seen the greatest spike in violence. At that time, I was an organizer with the Chicago Teachers Union and fought hard against those closures because we knew the damage that it would cause. But I am so honored to be standing in a community that I organized to protect,

14:14 and now I get to cut the ribbon at a school that was closed, bringing affordable housing as mayor of the city of Chicago. So in closing, we celebrate this transformation, a building from a vacant reminder of our difficult past into a place of stability that we can build a bright future on.

14:45 The city was honored to support this $34 million transformation. With a $4.74 million TIF assistance and Chicago Recovery Plan funding, today, 50 residents and families in Inglewood now have a place to call home and 50 households will now have an opportunity to build generational wealth. Fifteen of the units will receive HUD section assistance and nine units are supported through the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust to provide lasting affordability.

15:16 And thanks to the commitment and partnership of the Phoenix Foundation, this development will serve individuals and families who are at risk of homelessness and offer wraparound services to ensure residents can plant roots for themselves and their families for years to come. And furthermore, with this piece of Englewood revitalized, we can attract further investments into the community, and that's something that's important to me. I do want to thank all the people that have already been thanked, but I also want to just shout out this Englewood community that you are not forgotten. You are not unseen. You are loved and you are valued. Thank you all

15:53 very much. So please welcome with a nice round of applause the Commissioner of Housing, Ms. Lissette Constaneda. Good morning, everyone. Happy ribbon-cutting day. How fitting it is to be in a former Chicago public school the same week that students have

16:24 returned to school. In fact, yesterday, my oldest niece started pre-K at her local Chicago public school. I took her out for some celebratory Italian ice at the end of the day, and she told me about mommy and daddy and her baby sister walking her to school, about her new teacher and her new friend, about her classmate who had a birthday, and showed me the starter violin that she got at the after school program her school is going to be so

16:56 important to her not just for the next 10 years but it will be the foundation for the rest of her life it made me think about my own Chicago public school experience and about what I hope for her and I think about what I learned and who I became because of it and it just deepens my conviction that my niece and every single child deserve a phenomenal public school education just like the one that i had that includes a building that is comforting and familiar and that the people inside of it are

17:29 nurturing and warm every school building should be like that but the reality is that the opportunity for that to be a reality here at earl school was cut short in this community As the mayor said, in 2013, Chicago faced the largest school's closings. It disrupted families, educational attainment, and one of the only consistent institutions people in the community felt they had. That is why the Department of Housing jumped at the opportunity to fund and support this project.

18:03 Instead of letting it turn into market-rate condos, Gorman and Company and the Phoenix Foundation did the brave thing. They rolled up their sleeves and worked for over a decade to bring a fully affordable apartment building here to West Englewood. This development will provide homes. They will provide one- and two-bedroom apartments for both individuals and families. These 50 apartments will be for residents that are earning less than $50,000 if they're on their own,

18:33 or less than $73,000 a year if they are a family of four. this is a working class development it is for our working class neighbors it is a green building and it is fully electric with this rehab demonstrating that historic preservation energy efficiency supportive services and affordable housing can and must go together it will feature a community room a computer lab an exercise room a playground a community garden laundry facilities and green space. These are not luxuries. This is what we need to thrive. The city provided support for

19:11 this project and for the ability to make all of these things happen, and we could not have done it alone. Again, thank you to Gorman and Company and the Phoenix Foundation. Thank you to Ida and ComEd and all the other private partners who chose to share in this vision. I want to thank my team at the Department of Housing for their work on this. Tamra, Joe, Jesse, Fred, Dan. I want to thank Alderman Lopez for his support and of course thank you to Mayor Johnson whose vision for the city of Chicago leads our work and is beautifully represented in this affordable housing building

19:45 in a former public school. Because of all of the work that we have done together, today we get to address harm that was done and stand in front of a building that is full of light and warmth. It will nurture adults and children alike and will be comforting and familiar, both to the families living inside and the community that helped bring this together and that now surrounds it. Together, we have helped this school building return to its original essence, to its calling as a place that provides stability and hope.

20:18 We should all be proud. Thank you all. It is my pleasure to introduce Charles Mayfield, the Chief Operating Officer of Chicago Public Schools. Well, good morning. All right. Thank you, Commissioner, and good morning again to everyone. Got to fix this here. Obviously, I drink a lot of milk, right?

20:48 So, really tall. again I'm Charles Mayfield from Chicago Public Schools and chief operating officer and I can tell you folks we have had a wonderful week thus far it's hump day but school was just started back on Monday and we are I'm telling you we can feel the excitement in the air from all the students that we have been seeing each and every day so that's why I would say it's really fitting to be standing here right now because this building began its life back in 1897

21:21 doing exactly what our schools have been doing this week and it's opening its doors to the Inglewood community because I can tell you folks the people they they belong here that's why we're hyper focused about forging partnerships that make sure our buildings can continue to benefit the communities in which they located, even when they're no longer operating at schools. So when we sold this building way back in 2017, which was a testament to the fact that even when

21:56 transformation takes a long time, it's still worth pursuing. Look at what Gorman and Company and the Phoenix Foundation and this coalition of partners have done here it's magical it's beautiful and they didn't erase earl's history they preserved it they took this 19th century building the schoolhouse into a 21st century purpose and we're calling it home now our schools are the pillars in the neighborhoods that we serve but there are also other pillars

22:30 that also hold up our cities it's the housing the public spaces the small businesses and they're all in just plain sight. And I can tell you here, I got a shameless plug. Our Board of Education, they recently approved more former schools, Paderewski, Bontemps, Henson Shed, to become housing and community centers. Let's give a round of applause for that. So we're not slowing down, right? In the weeks ahead, we'll put another round of former vacant

23:06 schools and vacant properties out for bid which brings me to a small piece of business right so so gorman phoenix foundation you set the bar awfully hot today we don't need to stop right but when we put those bids out we'll be looking for you because we know exactly where you are you and all the partners here partnerships like this are just a shining example of the work we can do together and what we can make happen, one building at a time. I can't

23:38 wait to see the kids around here at the Earl Residences playing on the playground, also biking on the block and experiencing just the community garden. And hopefully we'll see them at Earl STEM Elementary School, which is just a short 10-minute walk from here, folks. Again, I want to thank everyone for being here and before I turn it over to Sherri Allen Reeves from the Phoenix Foundation thank you thank you thank you to all of our partnerships with you all thank you Alderman thank you mayor for being able to make this happen after

24:21 lower the mic good afternoon everyone it is such a delight to be here I really want to thank the mayor the city of Chicago Alderman Lopez and all of the other community partners that made this possible Gorman you know I love you all dearly. It is because of you that I am here as the Executive Director of the Phoenix Foundation. And it has been a tremendous opportunity, but I want to tell you a little bit about why we are here and the services that we provide, not only here, but with the Phoenix Foundation overall.

24:57 We are a supportive services organization that provides services to those individuals who are homeless, unstably housed, and those who are residents in permanent supportive housing. And with that, we do a myriad of services, and it's because of this development that that was the catalyst for how we got started. Right now, we have a full continuum of services that spreads from a drop-in center on 71st near Ketzee. We have a 100-bed unit of non-congregate shelter, right, 100 units of non-congregate shelter on 5300 South Pulaski.

25:36 That was one of the few non-congregate shelters here in Chicago that has already been implemented since September of 2023. We house individuals there. It's a triage shelter, so people are time-sensitive, but we want people to be housed from there into permanent supportive housing, which is why we have 38 units of rapid rehousing. We have 30 units of permanent supportive housing called the Gilda Sleeve Apartments, And we are continuing as a state of Illinois housing prevention, homeless prevention program, as well as doing a myriad of other services as an access point for people who are experiencing homelessness.

26:16 But that would not have happened without this development. This development is bringing community partners together like Rage, Growing Homes, and add teamwork in the wood. That wouldn't have happened without all of these integral partners making this community thriving. What I will say, though, what is also needed is more infrastructure to help people maintain the housing here in the community, which is part of what Phoenix Foundation's mission is. Our goal is to end generational homelessness.

26:47 What that means is that we need to be able to put those things in place to help people be able to thrive in the community. We house people all over the south side of Chicago, but they sometimes need the infrastructure to maintain that housing. And so I am excited to be partners with the city of Chicago as we move forward in that direction in providing additional services, additional resources, and additional opportunities through employment and education, and job development, as well as financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and the like,

27:19 because our goal is to end generational homelessness, to stop the inflow of those who are experiencing homelessness and have them maintain housing stability. And so with that, I thank you all again for being here and allowing me the opportunity to now introduce Keith Pryor, Deputy Director of Multifamily Financing for AIDA. Good morning. Good morning. Now, I've been doing this for 30 years,

27:50 and this becomes part of the job sometimes. and I just want to say thank you to each and everyone because you just reminded me I've never been in a room in any recent history where I felt the passion just from each and every person each and every speaker each and every person in the room so it helped me up and so now I have to go to this porn talk but good afternoon my name is Keith prior I'm deputy director of the multifamily

28:23 department at ida illinois housing development authority on behalf of the governor jb pritzker ida's board ida staff director faust we want to say that we're very excited to celebrate today's grand opening for those of you who are not familiar with ida we finance the creation and preservation of affordable housing throughout the state just in this zip code in this area alone we have funded over 300 units. I think just maybe a week ago, maybe two weeks ago, Ida was out with

28:55 the mayor and the commissioner just a few blocks away. And when we talked about and we went through financing two vacant units, two vacant homes, putting them back on on on the market, selling them to affordable residents. It's an exciting time for the neighborhood and we're grateful to be a part. I joined IDA a little over 30 years ago and throughout my career as a housing professional I hold certain truths to be self-evident. One such truth is every community

29:33 tells a story and when you get to Chicago every block tells a story and I think we can all agree that we love the story being told today. It's the story of a community. Writing their next chapter by taking pieces from the past to meet the needs of the present and the future. While preserving the culture and history of the neighborhood. In Ida's view, adaptive reuses such as Earl are a critical and sustainable way to create affordable housing.

30:05 And we have numerous examples of adaptive reuse in our portfolio. But that's not the only story we're telling today, gang. The story is also about meeting the need for affordable and supportive housing throughout the entire state, and West Inglewood specifically. Almost 39% of the population experiences a disability. Almost 23% are severely cost burdened. In other words, they're paying more than 50% of their income towards rent, towards the

30:35 housing. By funding these apartments, we are giving many of our friends and neighbors an alternative an affordable option with the stability they need to live empowered and full lives. I'm of the opinion providing a roof over someone's head is great. It allows them to survive, but the supportive services that come along with it allows them to thrive. It puts them in a position to thrive. And so that's why we're so thankful to partner with Phoenix. They're going to be crucial to the success of this development, and we're pleased to

31:07 have them part of the deal. And speaking personally from someone who could, and growing up, could have benefited from those services, I say that as a personal thank you. So thank you. Though we have the resources to support developments like this, we could not do it alone without the success of our public and private partners. And with that in mind, I want to go through thanking just a few of the people. I can't thank everyone. First and foremost, thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Alderman Lopez. Thank you, Commissioner Castaneda.

31:39 I want to send a special thank you to you because, again, I've been doing this for 30 years, and the rapport that we have with your team allows us to facilitate. Send a special shout-out to Joe, Tamara, and I just saw you both, so thank you. It was just that type of work that we're able to do together to do this great work. And with your collective and individual leadership, we're able to make an impact on the lives of not only the people in the city of Chicago, but throughout the state. Also, I want to acknowledge our friends at Gorman. We've been working with them since 2004.

32:11 I believe this is at least our eighth development with them, so thank you for the great work that you do. Again, thank our friends at the Phoenix Foundation. I think we just recently started to work with you, and this maybe is our first of two deals that we have working with you. So, again, thank you. Welcome to our family, and we'd love to continue working with you. With partners like you, the future of West Englewood and Illinois looks bright. As we celebrate those achievements today and continue our partnership, preserve more affordable housing, and we'll help West Englewood write its next chapter.

32:46 So thank you, thank you, thank you. And I think next up is our friends from Merchant. Comment, okay, next up, friends from Comment. Thank you, Keene. Hello, everyone. I'm Kara Jonas. I'm a senior manager over residential energy efficiency at ComEd, and I'm honored to be here today with Mayor Brandon Johnson, 15th Ward Alderman Raymond

33:22 Lopez, Chicago Department of Housing Commissioner Lissette Casaneda, Charles Mayfield, Chief Operating Officer at CPS, Sherry Allen-Reeves, Executive Director of Phoenix Foundation, and Keith Pryor, Deputy Director of Multifamily Financing at IDA, and all of our respected community and business partners. As a company, ComEd is proud of our work with Gorman & Company and the Phoenix Foundation in the transformation of the former Earl School into affordable,

33:55 supportive residential opportunities for the residents of Chicago's Englewood neighborhood. ComEd shares in their commitment to expand access to affordable housing across Chicagoland while creating sustainable and energy-efficient living spaces. The redevelopment is a testament to the revitalization efforts in the Englewood community, with an emphasis on preserving the historical significance of Earl School while redesigning a new and inspiring purpose. Through ComEd's award-winning energy efficiency program, ComEd helped

34:30 provide incentives and technical guidance to support the Earl School Apartments project, including heat pumps and unit electrification, lighting and advanced controls. and high-efficiency windows and other energy-saving measures, all of which helps create a cleaner, more sustainable environment while reducing energy use and costs for both developers and residents. The clean energy measures that are part of this development are expected to save owners and residents

35:00 over 1.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity. In environmental terms, this is equivalent of reducing over a million pounds of carbon emissions, which is the same as removing about 110 cars from the road each year, or planting nearly 500 acres of trees. By participating in the COMED program, Gorman and the Phoenix Foundation also qualified for nearly $250,000 in incentives, all of which helped offset the cost of these energy efficiency upgrades.

35:32 And that creates real opportunities for local contractors and tradespeople. Earl School Apartments is the latest example of the work ComEd has done to support affordable housing development here in Chicago's Southside and across Northern Illinois. Under our affordable housing new construction offering, we supported the development of over a hundred projects, providing technical guidance and incentives for new construction and renovation projects that improve comfort, reduce energy use, all for income eligible households.

36:05 Since the program's launch in 2016, we've been able to help developers and income-eligible residents save nearly 31 million kilowatt-hours of electricity. This, in turn, helps keep energy bills more affordable, and collaborations like this show how sustainable development can benefit the community, customers, and our planet. We look forward to continuing to support the Englewood community and to ensure that future redevelopments incorporate the best energy efficiency practices

36:36 to support the transition towards a cleaner and more just future for everyone. Thank you. Can we give a round of applause for all of our speakers? At this moment, I invite the mayor, Brandon Johnson, to lead us outside for a photo shoot, which will be on the northwest corner right in front of the Earl Residences sign,

37:07 And then following that, we will go into some of the units and actually get to see how beautiful they look. So thank you, everyone.

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