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Westhaven

The Residences at Westhaven Park is the first mixed-use Affordable / Market Rate midrise built in the City of Chicago. Part of the Chicago Housing Authority’s 10-year comprehensive redevelopment of the Henry Horner Homes public housing projects, the building replaces high-rise developments that came to suffer urban blight.

This Midrise incorporates a mix of approximately half rent-assisted, affordable, and half market rate residences in a cohesively designed environment. It includes both one and two-bedroom units. This building also includes many amenities associated with much more expensive residential midrise developments, including: Spacious unit layouts feature high ceilings, generous storage, and a contemporary feel; on-site management; 24-hour security; an exercise and fitness room; a social and meeting room; energy efficient design; recycling center; ground landscaping; separate private storage areas for each residence; and private parking. All units have a comfortable, contemporary design and feature abundant natural light and outdoor terraces. The building is directly accessible to public transportation. Parks, schools, and social services are all nearby, most within easy walking distances.

The building structure and all floors are completely constructed of loadbearing-precast concrete with an Endicott face brick veneer for maximum durability and fire resistance. This structure, manufactured locally, is a reusable "green" material.

Westhaven Park Midrise responds to its neighborhood context with a design that echoes the industrial lofts, central business district office structures, and traditional Chicago neighborhoods surrounding the project. Its three-part elevation division is reminiscent of traditional higher-end residential prototypes. Being a block west of the CTA elevated rail line, it also provides a buffer between them and lower rise residential to the west which is part of this same development. Although a block long, its scale is reduced and enlivened horizontally and vertically with masonry and cast stone articulation that highlights individual units.

Of key importance in recreating this neighborhood was the need to provide safety, durability, high design quality, functional efficiency, and cost effectiveness. Also important was to create a "sense of place" devoid of stigma.