Proposed Workforce Housing Development Heads to Chicago Plan Commission

The mixed-use project at 7603 N. Paulina would include 80 affordable apartments and ground-floor retail.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:30pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a polished, geometric model of a multi-story apartment building in brushed metal, resting on a clean white seamless background and illuminated by dramatic studio lighting to conceptually represent affordable housing and urban revitalization.A sleek, minimalist model of the proposed affordable housing development symbolizes the city's efforts to address housing challenges through innovative, community-focused projects.Chicago Today

The Chicago Plan Commission will review a proposed mixed-use workforce housing development at 7603 N. Paulina later this month. Planned by Housing for All LLC and Visionary Ventures, the project will feature 80 affordable, family-size, accessible apartments, with 60 units in a new eight-story building and 20 units in the existing Werner Bros. Storage building. The development will also include 5,062 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

Why it matters

This project aims to provide much-needed affordable housing and economic revitalization in the area, addressing the city's ongoing challenges with housing affordability and access to community resources.

The details

The development will occupy the northeast corner of W. Howard St and N. Paulina St, requiring the demolition of the one-story building at the corner while preserving the orange-rated Werner Bros. Storage building from 1921. All 80 units will be reserved for households earning between 30% and 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with 10% fully accessible and another 20% easily adaptable. The developers are seeking to rezone the site from B1-3 and B3-3 to a unified B3-3 with a Planned Development designation.

  • The Chicago Plan Commission will review the proposed development at its meeting later this month.

The players

Housing for All LLC

The developer planning the mixed-use workforce housing project at 7603 N. Paulina.

Visionary Ventures

The developer planning the mixed-use workforce housing project at 7603 N. Paulina.

Cordogan Clark & Associates

The architectural firm serving as the architect for the proposed development.

Werner Bros. Storage

The existing orange-rated building from 1921 that will be preserved as part of the project.

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What’s next

If the Chicago Plan Commission approves the project, the proposal will need final approvals from the Committee on Zoning and City Council.

The takeaway

This workforce housing development represents a collaborative effort to increase affordable housing options and support local businesses in the community, demonstrating the city's commitment to inclusive growth and economic opportunity.