Historic Lawson House, Chicago

2024 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Rehabilitation & Richard H. Driehaus Legacy Award

It took Peter and Jackie Holsten, co-developers and a husband-and-wife team, a little more than two years to rehabilitate a 1931 Art-Deco skyscraper designed by architects Perkins, Chatten and Hammond for the YMCA of Chicago. The National Register-listed building was named for the YMCA’s largest donor, Victor Lawson. The Holstens, through Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation and Holsten Human Capital Development, NFP, have converted 583 single-room-occupancy spaces into 409 studio apartments with private kitchens and baths. Located in the expensive Near North Side neighborhood where affordable housing barely exists, Lawson House’s apartments will provide quality housing to low-income residents, many of whom have previously experienced homelessness. Lawson House also provides supportive services primarily through Holsten Human Capital Development and Renaissance Social Services and supplemented by the Veteran’s Association and other providers. The complete renovation also resulted in a highly energy-efficient development designed to achieve LEED Gold.

(Photo credit: Couch Fire Films)

Additional Information

The rehabilitation of Lawson House included modernizing and replacing all major building systems, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems. The new systems will dramatically reduce energy and water consumption. Financing includes Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and HOME loans administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority and the City of Chicago and state and federal Historic Preservation Tax Credits. The also project utilized Donation Tax Credits administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority and ComEd Affordable Housing Grant funding. The Chicago Housing Authority, HUD, the VA, Renaissance Social Services and Chicago Low Income Housing Trust Fund will administer rental subsidies ensuring affordability for low-income residents on 402 of the 406 resident units.

Project Principals

• Peter Holsten, Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation, co-Developer
• Jackie Holsen, Holsten Human Capital Development, NFP, co-Developer
• Doug Farr & Mercedes Miley, Farr Associates, Architect
• Jeff Pezza, Walsh Construction

LI asks: Why is this place important to you?

Peter and Jackie Holsten, Owners

“This development has preserved affordable housing for the most vulnerable populations, including individuals who have previously experienced homelessness, persons with disabilities, veterans, seniors and individuals with low or no income. This housing has been preserved in one of the most unaffordable neighborhoods in Chicago. It is a reminder of how affordable housing is needed everywhere and shows a model of how to develop it in amenity-rich and highly desirable areas. And Historic Lawson House was designed taking into account the lived experience of tenants.”

 

(Photographed: Lawson House’s former barber shop before and after rehabilitation)

LI asks: How did this place impact people in your community?

Peter and Jackie Holsten, Owners

“The renovation of SRO sleeping rooms into studio apartments with private kitchens and baths with quality finishes has transformed the living space and enhanced the quality of life of tenants. The building includes numerous amenities, including a fitness center in the historic gymnasium, a green roof and roof deck and areas for social services providers to provide life skills training and other supportive services. The construction of the building exceeded the City of Chicago’s requirements for utilizing Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women Business Enterprises (WBE) with 29% MBE utilization and 8% WBE utilization. This project has had and will continue to have a tremendous impact on the lives of tenants — 406 low-income individuals, many of whom have experienced homelessness or are at risk of homelessness, who pay no more than 30% of their income (some as low as $0) for their housing and the many amenities and wrap-around social services in the building.”