Hispanic Housing Development Corporation and our architects, Pappageorge Haymes Partners, have been recognized with a Vision Award in the Program Category by the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Chicago chapter.
Named in honor of the “Borinqueneers” unit of the United States Army, the 49- unit complex serves as a transition al bridge helping to re-integrate homeless and at-risk veterans with their families and the larger community. Located across from Chicago’s historic Humboldt Park, the 4-story structure occupies a former surface parking lot and fills the once missing space in the street-front, blending with nearby 2- to 4-unit grey-stone dwellings and the 6-story Norwegian American Hospital (NAH) complex. The site offers convenient access to healthcare, public transportation and neighborhood retail, in addition to community gardens and recreational activities of the park. On-site supportive services counseling will be coordinated by the US Veterans Administration with a referral system to provide opportunities for residents to engage in programs designed to help improve physical and mental well-being.
The successful realization of the project has resulted from the shared commitment and long-term collaboration between community residents, HHDC and NAH, who also donated the land for the new facility.