Chicago Tour
April 20-22, 2018
Seven participants were selected for an in-depth tour throughout Chicagos's diverse neighborhoods to speak to developers and founders who have successfully transformed raw indoor spaces for multi-purpose, mixed use. The tour included: site visits and discussions with a private network of local developers and planners, travel and hotel accommodations, and intimate meals neighborhood favorite restaurants.
LOCATION
1. LYTE LOUNGE
LYTE Collective
LYTE Collective provides youth in situations of poverty and homelessness with safe space, critical resources and holistic support. The community center provides comprehensive recreation, education and employment programming, including: a music studio, basketball court, performance stage, teaching kitchen, computer lab, arts and dance space, secure storage units, meeting and gathering spaces as well as private offices for counseling and tutoring.
Tour led by: Megan Wickman, Chief Program Officer and Carl Wiley, Chief Innovation Officer
2. ENGLEWOOD SQUARE
DL3 Realty
This 5 acre development in the Englewood neighborhood includes a new 18,000-square foot Whole Foods Market, approximately 22,000 square feet of complementary retail, and two outlet parcels. The Whole Foods Market provides convenient access to fresh, healthy, natural and organic food for residents of Englewood and South Side neighborhoods.
Tour led by: Leon Walker, Managing Partner
3. BOOMBOX, ENGLEWOOD
Latent Design
This is Chicago’s first shipping container pop-up retail shop. The prefabricated, climate controlled, pop-up storefront is constructed from an upcycled shipping container available for short term rental. There are 4 Boombox locations in commercial corridors across Chicago.
Tour led by: Katherine Darnstadt, Founder + Principal Architect
4. ARTS BLOCK
The University of Chicago
The Arts Block accommodates a wide range of cultural, civic, and commercial spaces, combining University-led initiatives, programming produced by cultural organizations, and private investments from entrepreneurs. The University of Chicago's Arts Incubator, led by Arts + Public Life, currently shares the block with privately-owned neighbors the Currency Exchange Café and BING Art Books.
The University of Chicago is collaborating with the City of Chicago, Cook County, neighborhood organizations, and Chicago’s creative and educational community to make the Arts Block vision a reality.
Tour led by: Lori Berko, Chief Operating Officer & Isis Ferguson, Associate Director of City + Community Strategy
5. KLEO ARTS RESIDENCES
Brinshore Development
KLEO Art Residences will provide 58 beautiful apartment homes to families, seniors and artists of the Washington Park community of Chicago. KLEO Art Residences will be a mixed-use, mixed-income development serving as a catalyst along the Gar eld Boulevard corridor with groundbreaking design that pushes the boundary of modern aesthetics.
Tour led by: Mike Roane, Vice President
6. WOODLAWN STATION
Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH)
A new construction located just steps from the Cottage Grove Green Line station, the transit-oriented development and mixed-use building will offer 70 apartments and 15,000 square feet of retail on the former site of the Grove Parc apartment complex in the Woodlawn neighborhood.
Tour led by: Bill Eager, Vice President for the Chicago Region
Restaurants
1. CURRENCY EXCHANGE CAFE
305 E. Garfield Blvd, Chicago, IL 60637
2. OPART THAI
1906 S. State St. Chicago, IL 60616
3. PAPAS CACHE SABROSOS
2517 W. Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
Participants
Kelly Edwards
Arts + Crafts Holdings
Casey O'Donnell
Impact Services Corp
Natalie Jackson
City of Philadelphia, Department of Commerce
David Grasso
Grasso Holding, LP
Emily Gutner
Temple University
Brent Howard
Shift Capital
Maddie Decerbo
Special thanks to
Carson Poole
Market Manager, Tour Guide