CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Casa Durango, at 19th Street and Racine Avenue, is a development by The Resurrection Project in a neighborhood where long-time residents have been priced out.
Chicago’s Department of Housing Commissioner Marisa Novara spoke Tuesday at the building’s ribbon cutting about the extent to which gentrification has impacted Pilsen.
“Pilsen’s lost more than a quarter of its Latino population,” Novara said.
Kristin Faust, with the Illinois Housing Development Authority, described how these multi-million dollar projects are financed.
“It’s a lasagna, it’s a wedding cake, these buildings take all these layers of financing,” Faust said.
One former Pilsen resident, Recarda Pedraza, said she was moving back to the neighborhood with her children — here to Casa Durango, which will include over 50 affordable units.
Degressa was moved to tears. She spoke Tuesday, in Spanish, about how difficult it has been.
Now, she's back, and there are plans for hundreds more affordable units.
All of the Resurrection Project’s buildings are named for states in Mexico.
Related
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!