Approaching Close on AIV Development
The Renaissance Collaborative Inc. (TRC) is pleased to announce a significant milestone in the development of Abrams Intergenerational Village. The nonprofit organization has secured over 97% of the funding necessary to close on the $35 million building that will house seniors raising dependents (a.k.a. grandfamilies), independent seniors, and housing-insecure college students who will serve as resident assistants. Most recently, the City of Chicago’s Department of Housing announced it has set aside funds for the project. Additional funders of this project include Illinois Housing Development Authority- Low Income Housing Tax Credits and soft funds, Federal Home Loan Bank-AHP Grant, City of Chicago Equitable Transit Oriented Development (ETOD) Grant, RRF Foundation, ComEd, Pierce Family Foundation, Cuore e Mani Foundation and individual donors.
Abrams Intergenerational Village (formerly called Senior Village II) is the completion of the Senior Village concept that launched with the opening of TRC Senior Village 1 in 2010. AIV will be a newly constructed 71-unit building located kitty-corner to TRC Senior Village at the long-term vacant land at 5300-5318 S. Calumet in the Washington Park neighborhood.
Patricia Abrams, Executive Director of TRC from 1992-2023, became a champion for intergenerational housing research and development in the early stages of this project. In 2006, she traveled the country under a fellowship from the Chicago Community Trust and visited multiple practicing grandfamily housing complexes across the United States, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each model and presenting her findings to the city’s task force, state task force, and suburban council for grandfamilies. Because of her dedication to the research and development of this project, the Bronzeville community voted to name this new intergenerational building Abrams Intergenerational Village in her honor.
Gail Schechter, Executive Director of Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly shared, “H.O.M.E. is proud to have partnered with TRC from 2019 until earlier this year to conceive of and co-design Abrams Intergenerational Village, uniting our twin organizational goals of creating new intergenerational housing on the south side. Pat Abrams, with whom I have worked for decades, and I share a philosophy that the housing needs of older people are best met by lifting up their gifts and fostering community for people of all ages. H.O.M.E. is thrilled that TRC will develop, own, and operate this residence, fulfilling a strong desire for affordable housing opportunities that incorporate grandparents raising grandchildren in Chicago’s Washington Park neighborhood.”
The building and its onsite programs are being sensitively designed to allow seniors to effectively raise children collaboratively in an intergenerational setting. In the Village, these grandparents will engage with their peers as well as have support services in place to nurture children, support the grandparents, and provide fellowship for seniors without close family. Community rooms, accessible gardens, play areas, fitness, library, and computer rooms will be accessible to all. Supportive services will include onsite case management, fitness, health/wellness, transportation, financial and benefit services, intergenerational activities and support, gardening, recreational activities on and offsite, and referral services.
AIV will include 25 two- and three-bedroom apartments for grandfamilies, 39 apartments for independent seniors, and 7 apartments for homeless college students who will act as resident assistants. All units will be affordable and subject to income limits of 60% AMI.
TRC is seeking contributions by the end of 2024 from individuals and foundations to close the funding gap. Donations to this project may be eligible for Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credits (IAHTC), allowing those with Illinois tax liability to take a tax credit worth 50% of their donation amount. Those without state tax liability can transfer their credit back to TRC to increase the impact of their contribution.
To learn more about Abrams Intergenerational Village and to donate/pledge a contribution, please visit www.TRCWabash.org/AIV.
