Related Midwest announced that the waitlist for affordable apartments at Poplar Place, a 100-unit affordable family apartment community in Springfield, Illinois, is currently open, with renovated homes now available to lease.
Working closely with local officials, the city of Springfield and the Springfield Housing Authority, Related Midwest and contractor LR Contracting Company are transforming Poplar Place, which was constructed in 1950, into a modern community comprising 100 apartments within single-family and duplex homes.
The $44.8 million redevelopment includes de-densifying the existing property and fully rehabbing a total of 75 buildings. It also features the creation of a 2.5-acre Great Lawn for gathering and social interaction, a new community center with a full kitchen, a playground area, walking paths and a management office.
Related Midwest’s rehabilitation of Poplar Place builds on the company’s mission to preserve and improve affordable housing. As one of the largest owners and operators of affordable housing in the Midwest, Related Midwest has never converted an affordable unit to market-rate.
The company’s rehabilitation of the property, reimagined by Evan Lloyd Architects and constructed by Related Midwest’s LR Contracting Company, includes modernizing interior finishes; replacing kitchens and bathrooms; and installing new energy-efficient appliances, lighting and heating systems. Residences now feature wide-plank flooring throughout, Whirlpool stainless steel appliances, Delta fixtures and accessories, and in-home laundry. The extensive exterior renovation work involves installing new roofing and windows and the removal and replacement of exterior siding. A one-car garage will be newly constructed for each of the 50 single-family homes.
The affordable apartments range from two to four bedrooms, with monthly rents between $800 and $925. The apartments are income-restricted, with qualified incomes ranging from $41,760 to $78,660 based on household size.
In line with their longstanding community hiring practices, Related Midwest and LR Contracting Company have hired local laborers for the redevelopment, including many people who currently or previously lived at Poplar Place.
