HUMBOLDT PARK — A series of neighborhood improvements aimed at boosting safety, infrastructure and affordable housing in Humboldt Park and surrounding areas received government funding from the White House.
Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, who represents Illinois’ third congressional district, championed the $14.1 million in federal funding, which was awarded to four Humboldt Park projects out of 15 community projects in the district.
The district includes parts of Humboldt Park, Avondale, Logan Square and Belmont Cragin as well as parts of the western suburbs in DuPage County.
The funds are part of the FY24 appropriations bills for the first half of the year that President Joe Biden signed into law last week. Congress now has to meet to agree on when the funds will be disbursed to recipients, officials said.
“After a very untraditional first year in Congress, I am proud to announce that my office was successful in securing $14.1 million in federal funding for local community projects,” Ramirez said. “The transformative funding will address pressing issues in our region, including the lack of affordable housing and services for asylum seekers.”
The four Humboldt Park projects:
- Humboldt Park accessibility upgrades ($1 million): The money will be used to fix the neighborhood park’s sidewalks, paths and potholes, restore field house roofs and fix water issues that create safety hazards.
- LUCHA’s new office ($1.6 million): Funding will help prominent affordable housing developer LUCHA revitalize a vacant commercial building as a nonprofit community facility providing critical housing services.
- North Avenue Streetscape from Central Park to Cicero avenues ($850,000): Improvements will include width street resurfacing and base repair, drainage improvements, new sidewalks, ADA ramps, crosswalks, new lighting, new curbs and gutters, pavement markings and traffic signal modernization.
- Here to Stay Community Land Trust fund ($1 million): The money will help expand the inventory of homes for its affordable home ownership program, which aims to preserve homes for lower-income families in Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Hermosa and Avondale and build generational wealth by buying the land of subsidized properties.
At a press conference celebrating the funding, Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Rosa Escareño called Humboldt Park a gem with history worth preserving.
“These projects align with the District’s commitment to inclusivity and help further our ongoing work to ensure our parks are welcoming and accessible spaces for everyone,” Escareño said.
Chicago Park District officials previously said design work is being done to reopen the public bathrooms near the Humboldt Park playground, which have been closed for years.
Lincoln Stennard, LUCHA’s Director of Community Development, said in a press release the funding for the organization’s new office and community center will help it serve more people and broaden its neighborhood footprint.
After 40 years, LUCHA is fundraising for a bigger home since outgrowing its office at 3541 W. North Ave. The new office will have more space for community events, artwork, more counseling suites and meeting rooms.
“With these resources, we will be able to meet the need for equitable housing services and vibrant community spaces,” Stennard said. “We are proud to be part of this collective effort making long-term investments in quality of life across IL-03.”
In Belmont Cragin, a nonprofit serving immigrants and new arrivals called Onward Neighborhood House at 5413 W. Diversey Ave. received $3 million to expand its food pantry and develop a new migrant welcoming center.
Mario García, executive director of Onward Neighborhood House, said receiving the funding was a special day for the veteran organization.
“We are ecstatic to begin putting this funding to good use by building a community center that will provide critical human services to this community, including equitable access to nutrition, health and education services,” Garcia said.
The center will have a rooftop farm and a health care and pediatric clinic, offer adult education services and serve as a welcoming center for migrants, he said.
“This project will help the people in this community build lives of health and prosperity,” Garcia said. “Our core mission is anchoring the values of accessibility, equity and addressing the growing need for vital services.”
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