Lathrop Homes Moves Forward to Finalize Master Plan

Developers crafting the future of Lathrop Homes say they’re moving forward to finalize a new master plan following a contentious meeting with neighbors.

The Lathrop Community Partners—a five-part design team behind the project—hosted a discussion in July where nearly 250 residents attended to speak out about the project.

Now the group says they’re using that feedback to move into a new phase. But neighbors still looking to give their two cents on Lathrop Homes before the project is approved are in luck.

“We are now entering the planned development phase, during which we will meet with various city departments to finalize the Master Plan,” LCP official Jacques Sandberg said in a statement. “Much like the previous phase, public input in the planned development phase will also be critical to ensure project success. Lathrop Community Partners and the Chicago Housing Authority will convene another meeting this winter to begin implementation of the Master Plan.”

Rather than 1,600 housing units proposed in 2012, developers said in July they’re seeking 1,116 units, roughly 100 less than what the land is zoned to allow. Public housing will account for 400 units, 212 will be affordable housing with 504 meant for market-rate units. That would replace the 925 units there today.

That’s accompanied by 752 residential parking spaces, seen as some as an influx in congestion. The team, however, is seeking to build enough essential retailers inside Lathrop Hopes that it becomes a walkable community for residents.

As for buildings, developers plan to keep a vast majority of the historic brown brick structures north of Diversey Parkway. A majority south of the border, on the other hand, would be replaced.

“We retain 14 of the 17 buildings on the north side of Diversey,” said Doug Farr with the Lathrop Community Partners back in July. “We also retain almost all the buildings on the both sides of Diversey as you’re driving down. … That experience, the look and feel you had in 1938, it’s maintained and stays.”

Farr says all of the new buildings will be between two and eight stories, outside the “Iconic Building” planned for the southern-most tip of the development. How tall that residential building will be has yet to be decided.

Congestion at the intersection where Diversey meets Clybourn and Damen avenues will also be addressed by adding new roads to Leavitt Street down Damen Avenue. A new signal will be added near the Costco entrance, and multiple area intersections will be optimized with left-and right-turn signals, among other things.

Roughly 25,000-square-feet of new retail storefronts will also be added, as well as multiple new parks and public areas along the Chicago River. Both will be used to draw neighbors to Lathrop Homes and make it a part of the community.

The first phase of construction will hopefully start in 2015 on not only public housing, but all the units.