CHICAGO, IL - Evergreen Real Estate Group, a leader in the development, rehabilitation and management of both affordable and market-rate multifamily housing, today announced the completion of a $4 million renovation of Bethel Terrace Apartments, a 123-unit affordable senior housing community located at 900 W. 63rd Parkway in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood.
Evergreen Construction Co., the firm’s full-service construction arm, managed the six-month project as a phased, “in place” renovation that allowed residents to remain in their homes as improvements were made. Evergreen also helped secure the renewal of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 HAP tenant-based assistance for an additional 20 years to help preserve affordability.
“We’re proud to play a role in the continued revitalization of Englewood, not only through new-construction projects like the adjacent Sangamon Terrace Apartments, an affordable senior housing community our firm completed in 2015, but also through the rehabilitation and preservation of existing affordable residences like those at Bethel Terrace,” said Steve Rappin, CEO of Chicago-based Evergreen Real Estate Group. “This project, in particular, underscores our broader commitment to making quality housing accessible to seniors across all income levels, allowing them to age in place comfortably and affordably.”
Residential units at Bethel Terrace were updated with new flooring; paint; appliances, cabinetry and countertops in kitchens; vanities and plumbing fixtures in baths; energy-efficient baseboard heaters with programmable thermostats; and LED lighting. Improvements to common areas included new paint, flooring, lighting, elevator upgrades, shared Wi-Fi and an enhanced security system. Outside, Evergreen Construction Co. completed a façade restoration and roof replacement; installed new lighting and landscaping; replaced fencing; repaired sidewalks; repaved the parking lot; and added a new garden patio with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible seating. The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) provided financing for the Bethel Terrace rehabilitation project.
“The renovation work at Bethel Terrace demonstrates a true collaborative effort between Evergreen and the building’s nonprofit owner, Englewood Cooperative Apartments,” said Andre Pintauro, president of Evergreen Construction Co. “Synergies with our property management and facility team helped tremendously with the phased construction, and challenging logistics. Through continuous communication with residents, we were able to be transparent and cohesive in updating the community without disrupting the day-to-day lives of residents.”
Bethel Terrace is connected by a ground-level corridor to the adjacent Sangamon Terrace Apartments, a four-story affordable senior housing development, and features a community room space with full kitchen and extra conference room that can be shared by both properties. When completed by Evergreen Real Estate Group in 2015, Sangamon Terrace marked the nation’s last new-construction housing mixed-finance HUD Section 202 project and only three mixed-finance 202 projects ever developed in Illinois. HUD recently announced a new nationwide round of $50 million in Section 202 financing for affordable senior housing.
“Thanks to the new cabinets and countertops, my kitchen has a fresh new look. I’ve heard from so many residents who received upgrades and love their new and improved home,” said Veronica Payne, a 20-year resident and president of the community’s board. “This spring and summer, we’re also looking forward to spending more time enjoying the new patio.”
Bethel Terrace and Sangamon Terrace offer convenient access to CTA bus and train lines, and are located near Aldi and Whole Foods Market grocery stores as well as Kennedy–King College.