This LGBTQ-friendly, mixed-use development, to be named The John Pennycuff Memorial Apartments at Robert Castillo Plaza, would contain 100-percent affordable housing units made possible through the use of funds from the existing Milwaukee-Fullerton tax-increment finance (TIF) district.
“I am pleased to announce this TIF-funded affordable housing project in Logan Square, which has been in the planning process for more than two years,” said Moreno. “As you know, my commitment has always been to use TIF funds for two reasons: schools and affordable housing. I think this housing development is a great opportunity to bring even more affordability to Logan Square.”
The John Pennycuff Memorial Apartments at Robert Castillo Plaza would be the second LGBTQ-friendly affordable housing building, and one of the largest LGBTQ complexes in the City of Chicago.
This project is financed with a combination of Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) funds, TIF money, tax credits, and private funding.
“This is an historic moment in the 1st Ward and for the LGBTQ community,” said Ald. Moreno. “The building will include 88 affordable units in the effort to provide more affordable housing options to local residents and to accommodate the housing needs of the LGBTQ community.”
Ald. Moreno will have an open house this Saturday, May 21, 2:30-4:30 p.m. at Congress Pizzeria, 2033 N. Milwaukee Ave., to release details of this affordable housing development to the public. This is the first step in the community review and approval process for this development proposal.
The community partners for this affordable housing development include the Metropolitan Housing Development Corporation, La Casa Norte, Latin United Community Housing Association (LUCHA) and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center. The planned development is located at 2031 N. Milwaukee Ave. in the 1st Ward.
Pennycuff and Castillo were born in Logan Square and they were partners in life as well as activism. Both were strong advocates for greater equality for Chicago’s LGBTQ communities as well as active supporters of affordable housing in Logan Square. Both Castillo and Pennycuff served on The City of Chicago Council Advisory Council on LGBT Issues and were the first couple to register for the Cook County domestic partnership registry in 2003, and they were legally married in 2004. Pennycuff passed away in January 2012, but his legacy and activism in Chicago will forever be memorialized.
See windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Activist-former-WCT-employee-John-Pennycuff-dies/35873.html.