Strengthening Transit Through Community PartnershipsMore than two dozen community-based commercial and housing projects by new or emerging developers are part of the Elevated Works program. They are receiving $1 million in coaching and technical assistance by 13 partners, thanks to support from the city of Chicago and local philanthropy including the MacArthur Foundation and The Chicago Community Trust.
“We can use collaboration, policy and investments around transit to change our deeply divided and car-oriented city,” Elevated Chicago notes on their ‘what is ETOD’ web page “to restore vibrancy to areas harmed by disinvestment and displacement, to end racial segregation, to build wealth rather than extract it, and to use infrastructure to connect, not to separate, communities.”
Elevated Works provides coaching and technical assistance to emerging developers building near transit. We focus our efforts on supporting first-time Black, Latine and women developers working in communities that are experiencing displacement due to disinvestment or gentrification.
By managing a pipeline of Equitable Transit-Oriented Development projects and offering one-on-one coaching, customized technical assistance scopes, system navigation support, connections with developers with similar projects, and communications and storytelling services, we aim to:
- Support emerging developers and move their projects towards completion.
- Build a lasting, collaborative community of developers.
- Translate common barriers into system-level change with the City of Chicago.
- Celebrate shared successes and communicate the impact of ETOD.
Elevated Works is funded by the City of Chicago, the Chicago Community Trust and the MacArthur Foundation, and is a partnership with Elevated Chicago.
Technical Assistance
Our TA providers offer expertise in architecture, capital readiness, climate resiliency and decarbonization, communications, community engagement, feasibility assessments, market analysis, public art, real estate readiness, shared ownership models, site acquisition, site activation, transportation planning, urban design and zoning.
“The TA support was wildly helpful. The principle behind it – having an expert to ask questions to – was brilliant.”
- Micah Taylor, President, Chicago Printworks (TA Recipient, 2024)
We are currently working with:
We’re providing support to 28 projects across Chicago
“To see the store open and see people coming in, to shop. We’re more than just a grocery store; it’s a community gathering space.”
- Mary Meyer, Vice-President, Wild Onion Market (TA Recipient, 2024)
Our developers are:
- Addressing community needs: building affordable housing, community centers, theaters and cultural spaces, grocery stores, childcare centers, a food pantry, reentry programming, cafes, and office space.
- Predominantly Black, Latine and women: rooted in diversity and inclusion in Chicago’s real estate landscape.
- Investing in areas experiencing disinvestment: developers received up to $250,000 in Chicago Recovery Plan ETOD Grants to support their projects.
ETOD TA Projects
121 W Pullman Lofts
12100 S Halsted St (Pullman)
14-acre development that includes affordable and market-rate rental housing, parking, commercial retail, office space and an expansion of White Park.
1600 S Lawndale Business Hub and Art Gallery
1600 South Lawndale Avenue (North Lawndale)
Rehabilitation of a two-story commercial building as an arts incubator.
2811 W. Fulton St.
2811 W. Fulton St. (Garfield Park)
Commercial space that’s home to Chicago Printworks, a print shop that serves the arts community, Direction Tour Marketing, an arts marketing agency, Studio inHaus, an architectural rendering firm, and FlightFX, and aircraft simulator design firm.
Opened: October 2024
548 Energy Institute Workforce Hub
3206 W Washington Blvd (Garfield Park)
Renewable energy and solar workforce training hub with onsite educational facilities, hands-on training and labs, coworking spaces and offices; will headquarter 548 Foundation and 548 Energy Institute.
Abrams Intergenerational Village
5300-5318 S Calumet Ave (Washington Park)
Intergenerational housing for grandparents and children in Washington Park
Auburn Gresham Local Mobility Hub
7852-7860 S Halsted Ave (Auburn Gresham)
Mobility hub and community shuttle.
Avenue Apartments
5242 W Chicago Ave (Austin)
Mixed use development with retail and residential apartments.
Clark Commercial Corridor
7000 N Clark St (Rogers Park)
Interior and exterior improvements at a multi-tenant retail space, including roof repairs, HVAC and flooring.
Click Development, Evans
6601 S Evans Ave (Woodlawn)
Seven-unit residential development.
Click Development, Maryland
6659 S Maryland Ave (Woodlawn)
Two-unit residential rehab project, with a focus on sustainability.
Definition Theatre
6400 S Cottage Grove Ave (Woodlawn)
Theater, community center and entrepreneur incubator.
Food Matters
435-447 E 43rd St (Bronzeville)
Public market, commercial and teaching kitchens, greenhouse and apartments.
Ignatian Mission Center
6559 N Glenwood Ave (Rogers Park)
Rehabbed parish space to expand food pantry, counselling, legal aid and other social services.
Little Angels Learning Center
6700 S Emerald Ave (Englewood)
Childcare center serving children and families.
Melody Senior Residence Community Center
412 S Keeler Ave (Garfield Park)
Affordable residential units, senior services and community center.
Metropolitan L Apartments
2525 N Kedzie Blvd (Logan Square)
100% affordable residential units, street-front retail and community open space.
P3 Markets Headquarters
226 East 43rd Street (Bronzeville)
Interior and exterior improvements to a multi-tenant retail space, including P3 headquarters.
ReConstruction West Trade School
2711 W Lake St (East Garfield Park)
Rehabilitation of a two-story commercial structure for trade-related programming and education.
Read our story:
Public investment in local projects plus coaching and support proves a winning combination
Safe Harbor - Mayfair Arts Center
8701 S Bennett Blvd (Calumet Heights)
Community program spaces, a community kitchen, a lobby/gathering space, music practice rooms, a community greenhouse, accessibility features, bike sharing and distribution, EV charging stations, and solar/green enhancements.
St. Leonard's Campus Reimagined
2100 W Warren Blvd. (Near West Side)
Reentry programing to returning residents including transitional and permanent supportive housing, workforce training, life skills, integrated health and wellness care.
Starling
3243 W. 16th St. (North Lawndale)
Coffee shop and community space.
Opened: September 2024
Read our story:
Starling: North Lawndale's First Transit-Oriented Multipurpose Space and Coffeehouse
Sunshine Community Center
6016 S Martin Luther King Dr. (Washington Park)
Community center, athletic facilities, retail café, offices and spaces for business / workforce training.
Team Pioneros
4000 W North Ave (Humboldt Park)
Latino cultural hub and JGMA headquarters.
The Comedy Clubhouse
1462 N Ashland Ave (West Town)
Interior improvements at a comedy training school.
The K
4400 W Madison St (West Garfield Park)
Mixed use development with office space, retail, café, innovation hub and event space.
The Workshop
3741-3749 W Lawrence Ave (Albany Park)
Rehab of a 100-year-old building as an artist workshop, rehearsal and performance space.
VOB Fielding Apartments
7706-7763 S Normal Ave. (Greater Grand Crossing)
60 residential units.
Wild Onion Market
7007 N Clark St. (Rogers Park)
Community-owned grocery store.
Opened: July 2024
