Humboldt Park Residents Divided Over Proposed Affordable Housing Development

A vacant lot could become a 6-story affordable housing building, but some locals worry it doesn't fit the neighborhood's character.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A vacant lot on the 3200 block of West Division Street in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood could become a 6-story affordable housing building with 44 units. While some residents support the plan as a way to address the city's housing crisis, others argue the large building doesn't fit the area's historical two-flat architecture and could oversaturate the neighborhood with low-income housing.

Why it matters

The proposed affordable housing development highlights the tensions between the need for more accessible housing and preserving the existing character of established neighborhoods. As gentrification and rising costs push lower-income residents out of many urban areas, this project represents an attempt to keep residents in the communities they call home, but some worry it could backtrack progress in revitalizing the west side of Humboldt Park.

The details

The vacant lot on the 3200 block of West Division Street has sat empty for 7 years. The proposed plan is for a 6-story, 100% subsidized rental building with 44 units, 16 parking spots, and first-floor amenities like storage and a workout space. There are also plans to rezone the area from a shopping district to allow for mixed-use development. Some residents, like longtime Humboldt Park resident Kurt Gippert, argue the building is too large and doesn't fit the neighborhood's historical two-flat architecture. They also worry about parking issues. However, Alderman Jessie Fuentes and the Hispanic Housing Development Corporation, which owns the land, support the project as a way to address Chicago's housing crisis and keep residents in the community.

  • The vacant lot has sat empty for 7 years.
  • If approved, the developers expect to break ground by next year and have the building running in 2028.

The players

Kurt Gippert

A longtime Humboldt Park resident who opposes the proposed affordable housing development, arguing it is too large and doesn't fit the neighborhood's character.

Alderman Jessie Fuentes

The 26th Ward alderman who supports the affordable housing development, stating the city has a housing crisis and the project will allow residents to stay in the community.

Tony Hernandez

The CEO of the Hispanic Housing Development Corporation, which owns the land and is proposing the affordable housing project. He says they are listening to community feedback to reach a compromise.

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What they’re saying

“I'd love to see five retail spaces where retailers can come in, office use.”

— Kurt Gippert, Longtime Humboldt Park resident (CBS News)

“It's not that I'm against or we are against affordable housing. We support it.”

— Kurt Gippert, Longtime Humboldt Park resident (CBS News)

“I think we have a housing crisis in the city of Chicago, and I think we are extremely short.”

— Alderman Jessie Fuentes, 26th Ward alderman (CBS News)

“At the community's request, we are also building 1,000 square feet retail space.”

— Tony Hernandez, CEO of Hispanic Housing Development Corporation (CBS News)

What’s next

If approved, the developers expect to break ground on the affordable housing project by next year and have the building running in 2028.

The takeaway

The proposed affordable housing development in Humboldt Park highlights the ongoing tensions between addressing the city's housing crisis and preserving the character of established neighborhoods. While some residents support the project as a way to keep lower-income families in the community, others worry the large building doesn't fit the area's historical architecture and could further concentrate poverty in the neighborhood.