Boulevard Apartments Preservation is the preservation, recapitalization, and rehabilitation of 70 units of affordable housing located in three (3) separate walk-up buildings in West Town, Humboldt Park, and Logan Square.
Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation acquired and rehabbed these buildings in the early 1990s and they have served as safe, decent, and affordable housing for families continuously for the past 30 years. These buildings are classic Chicago walk-up apartment buildings and provide a significant number of larger units for families. The unit mix across Boulevard Apartments Preservation is twelve (12) four-bedroom units, fourteen (14) three-bedroom units, twenty-five (25) two-bedroom units, eighteen (18) one-bedroom units, and one (1) studio unit. Nearly 40% of the units are three-bedroom and larger.
Half of the units are restricted at 50% of Area Median Income (AMI) and the balance is restricted at 60% AMI. The project currently has existing subsidy contracts with the CHA and CLIHTF to provide deeper income targeting for 27 units, which will be available for residents at 15% and 30% AMI.
Scope of Work
Bickerdike completed a $40.5 million rehabilitation of these buildings, including comprehensive improvements to all units, common areas, and building systems. Unit interiors were modernized with new kitchens, bathrooms, and flooring throughout. All units received new ENERGY STAR® rated appliances, including refrigerators, stoves/ovens, and microwaves, as well as new 95% efficient furnaces, central air conditioning, and programmable thermostats. Building-wide improvements included new roofs and masonry repairs.
Windows were replaced with new Low-E glass windows designed to match the existing profiles. Where required on historic buildings, aluminum-clad wood windows were installed to maintain the historic character, while existing historic windows were repaired and preserved as required.
Electrical improvements included the replacement of existing building electrical panels with upgraded, higher-capacity electrical service. All lighting fixtures were upgraded to energy-efficient LED fixtures, and security cameras were installed to monitor and record common areas throughout the buildings.