Building Green Communities Episode 1: Develop (Humboldt Park Passive Living)

Episode 1: Develop of Building Green Communities explores how development decisions shape healthier, more equitable neighborhoods. This episode spotlights Humboldt Park Passive Living, a 60-unit affordable family housing development on Chicago’s West Side, and features A.J. Patton, Founder & CEO of 548 Enterprise, sharing how energy-efficient strategies can align with sound financial decision-making.

Through this project, we break down the developer’s role in delivering high-performance buildings and show how sustainable development benefits underserved communities—reducing utility costs for residents, strengthening neighborhood resilience, and making green buildings visible and accessible where they matter most.

Designed by Lamar Johnson Collaborative, the four-story mixed-use development will have 60 affordable residential units including 13 of them reserved for people with disabilities, 4 of which will also accommodate people with sensory impairments. The building will include approximately 7,700 square feet of retail space planned for a grocery store and cafe on the ground floor.

The project is slated to be the largest building in the City of Chicago to incorporate Passive House Design standards. The development is a culmination of both public and private investment, including $8.2M from the Department of Housing, $7.1M from the Department of Planning and Development, $18.7M in Tax Increment Financing, and the conveyance of four City-owned parcels for the write down of $1 each: https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/humboldt-park-passive-living-celebrates-groundbreaking