Evergreen Renovates IL Affordable Community
The 72-unit affordable housing community is located in Ronald Reagan’s boyhood town of Dixon, Ill.
Dixon, Ill.—Evergreen Real Estate Group has completed a $3.3 renovation project at Dixon Square Apartments, a 72-unit affordable housing community in Ronald Reagan’s boyhood town of Dixon, Ill.
The renovations were done in partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and City Real Estate Advisors. Evergreen secured a 20-year extension of the community’s Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment contract, preserving the affordability of the residences through 2036.
“We saw an opportunity to improve the wellbeing of the existing residents and ensure Dixon Square Apartments would continue to serve the Dixon community for generations to come,” Stephen Rappin, Evergreen’s president, said. “Our strong relationships with HUD and IHDA allowed us to secure the financing necessary to make this project feasible.”
Located at 540 Freedom Walk, the three-building property had not been significantly upgraded since it was originally constructed in 1980.
The renovations for the building envelope included adding new siding, new roofs, new windows and sliding glass doors. Unit interiors included the addition of new kitchen cabinets/countertops, new stoves and micro-hoods.
The developer also renovated bathrooms to include new tile flooring, vanities and plumbing fixtures, and replaced air conditioners and cable television hookups in each unit.
Energy conservation measures included adding low-flow toilets, new, ultra-high efficiency central water heaters, R56 attic insulation, and providing compact fluorescent bulbs in all units, LED public space and exterior areas.
Evergreen also enhanced the community’s common areas, including laundry facilities located on each floor, an on-site playground and community garden.
“Projects like Dixon Square provide quality affordable housing to residents who need it most,” Liandro Arellano Jr., Dixon’s mayor, said. “Updating the aging complex not only improves its overall appearance and livability, but also represents a broader investment in the future of our community.”
