Location
5000 S. Indiana, Chicago IL 60615, Map

Owner
Affordable Housing Preservation Foundation

Architect
Piekarz Associates PC

5000 S. Indiana

Washington Park SRO is a renovation of a 50-year old, 5-story, 200 unit SRO and recreational facility into a 100% affordable 63 unit SRO with plans for a future health club. Prior to beginning this renovation, the building sat vacant for two years after the Washington Park YMCA closed due to cost overruns.

The history of the project shows how one committed individual on the owner’s side can transform a project. The building design was well underway with no significant plans for a green project when Wyllys Mann began managing the project for East Lake Management & Development. Mann wanted to green the project and was given the freedom to do so if he could find funding for any additional costs. In response, he helped secure additional funding from sources such as the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Enterprise Foundation Green Communities program, all of which are common funders for green non-profit or affordable projects. Without this initiative from a single individual, you wouldn’t be reading this post.

Finally, note that the architect, Piekarz, had little prior green experience, but because of the owner’s directive, was and is willing to learn how to meet the project’s green goals. There are many other local architects with little green experience diving in head-firsts, and they are to be applauded for the efforts. Other project team members include MEP engineer BES Engineering and commissioning agent Sieben Energy Associates.