McShane Construction Co. has completed the comprehensive rehabilitation and renovation of the Borinquen Bella Apartments on behalf of owner, Latin United Community Housing Association.
The assignment included extensive exterior and interior renovation work that transformed 47 multi-family rental units, comprised of 62,896 square feet, into affordable and modern apartments within four existing scattered site residential buildings in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood.
The Borinquen Bella construction assignment included the complete restoration of the exterior façades and building exterior details including the installation of new roofs, windows, doors and tuckpointing. The interior units were upgraded with new flooring, fixtures, appliances, lighting and interior paint providing contemporary apartments meeting today’s residential standards. The four separate scattered site properties offer a combination of one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plan configurations for individuals and families.
Two murals are displayed on the properties at 1456 N. Rockwell St. and 1318 N. Rockwell St. LUCHA located the original artists who painted the murals in 1971 and 1992 and commissioned the artists to refresh and revive the pieces of artwork to their original prominence.
“McShane Construction is honored to have served LUCHA in implementing its vision of transforming these four multifamily residential buildings that comprised this assignment,” said Jeffrey Raday, president of McShane Construction.
Funding for the neighborhood renovation project was made possible through Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs) from the City of Chicago’s Department of Housing and Economic Development, HOME funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), funds from a U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and a Conservation Block Grant. Additional financial support was provided by the Illinois Housing Development Association (IHDA), Chicago Community Loan Fund, Chicago’s Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Fannie Mae. State Farm served as the tax credit investor and NEF (National Equity Fund) Assignment Corporation was the tax credit syndicator for Borinquen Bella. The project’s construction loan was underwritten by BMO Harris Bank.
Landon Bone Baker Architects provided the comprehensive architectural services for the renovation assignment.
