McShane Construction Company Completes Renovation of Affordable Apartments in Chicago Neighborhood

By Keith Loria, Contributing Editor

Rosemont, Ill.— McShane Construction Company has completed the comprehensive rehabilitation and renovation of the Borinquen Bella Apartments, located in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, on behalf of the Latin United Community Housing Association.

The renovations were designed to transform 47 multifamily rental units, consisting of 62,896 square feet, into affordable and modern apartments within four existing scattered site residential buildings.

“Humboldt Park is one of the many Chicago neighborhoods in which affordable housing is highly needed given changing demographics, evolving economic and workforce conditions, and the ever-increasing prices of rent,” James Miletello, LUCHA’s director of development and fundraising, tells MHN. “To that end, the Borinquen Bella renovation provided LUCHA with an opportunity to help stabilize the community by ensuring that affordable rental housing units are available for families who need them.”

The Borinquen Bella properties offer a combination of one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plan configurations for individuals and families.

McShane Construction did extensive exterior work, including a complete restoration of the exterior façades, the installation of new roofs, windows, doors and tuckpointing. New exterior doorways and gated entrances to the back of the buildings were also provided. The interior units were upgraded with new flooring, fixtures, appliances, lighting and interior paint.

“From a building systems standpoint, each property was enhanced with upgraded HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems,” David Rintz, McShane Construction Company’s senior project manager, says. “The interior of the apartment units were extensively renovated with new flooring, drywall repair, fresh paint, new kitchen and bathroom appliances and fixtures, kitchen countertops and cabinetry.”

Upon completion of the upgrades, the residents who occupied the units previous to the extensive renovation were welcomed back to their newly renovated homes.

Two murals displayed on the properties at 1456 N. Rockwell St., and 1318 N. Rockwell St., were also revived by their original artists as a way for LUCHA to promote a sense of community in the area.

Funding for the renovation project was made possible through Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the City of Chicago’s Department of Housing and Economic Development, HOME funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, funds from a U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and a Conservation Block Grant.

Landon Bone Baker Architects provided comprehensive architectural services for the renovation assignment.