CMHDC’s mission is to preserve and create naturally occurring affordable housing.

In order to maintain a balance between affordable and market rate housing, we target areas vulnerable to affordable housing shortages.  We then identify and acquire multifamily buildings in need of improvement as well as vacant parcels that we can develop.

We strive to provide the highest quality affordable housing in the communities we target.  We have invested wisely and have proven that we are a good risk. Our tenants, our neighbors and our business partners agree that we have changed people’s lives and helped turn neighborhoods around.

Examples of CMHDC Portfolio

 

CMHDC

CMHDC was created in 1982 to help finance the construction and rehabilitation of apartments for Chicago’s low-income residents. In 1996, new leadership prompted a redefinition as a 501(c)3 nonprofit affordable housing developer with a mission to preserve and develop affordable housing. Since then, CMHDC has concentrated its efforts in acquiring buildings in the open market, improving them and offering residents affordable rents. We focus on rapidly-changing neighborhoods that offer amenities to our residents. Our progress has been steady and strong. We have invested more than $70 million to acquire and redevelop 740 units over the last few years, and we have more projects in our sights.  Our commitment is to continue providing quality affordable housing throughout the metropolitan area, especially in strong markets where there is a shortage of affordable housing.

CMHDC Development Services

In 2010, CMHDC Development Services was created to concentrate development efforts in Chicago’s suburbs. Both organizations share the same mission but with different geographic areas.  Development Services concentrates its development efforts in areas outside the City of Chicago boundaries, and is charged with identifying preservation opportunities to ensure rental affordability in the suburbs. As of August 2020, CMHDC Development Services owns 140 apartments in Cicero, Evanston, Skokie and Harwood Heights. Our goal is to continue exploring other acquisitions to provide much needed affordable housing in the suburbs.

CMc (Chicago metropolitan construction)

In 2011 we created Chicago Metropolitan Construction (CMC) as our construction arm.  Our goal is to be more efficient by controlling the costs associated with the rehab of our own rental portfolio.  Looking towards the future, we plan to expand our construction company to provide services to other entities and engage in building new developments.

CMC is well equipped to do large and small jobs, whether a complete rehab of a building, or a small construction job, we are set up to meet the needs of our clients.

For more information or to request a bid, please visit cmcconstructionllc.com.

Examples of Interior Rehab

“CMHDC isn’t providing public housing, special needs or Section 8. It’s providing affordable housing that’s accessible to working people throughout Chicago.”
— Jack Markowski, President Community Investment Corp.

Recent awards and accomplishments

  • In 2018, the effort to preserve 2-4 flats lead to the creation of the City of Chicago PEAR (Preservation of Existing Affordable Rentals) program.

  • In 2017 CMHDC won the LISC (Local Initiative Support Corporation) Polk Brothers Foundation Affordable Rental Housing Preservation Award for the preservation of 18 buildings 2-4 flat buildings in Chicago.