Groundbreaking held for Woodlawn Central development; construction slated for 2027

In the next decade, the area around the Obama Presidential Center could look a lot different when a new development is complete.

Woodlawn church leaders and elected officials broke ground on the massive project on Saturday morning.

The day has been a long time coming for leaders and members of the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn. The ceremony was held alongside elected officials before they broke ground on the new Woodlawn Central development.

"Yes, it may be a church who initiated the effort, but let me make something abundantly clear ... Woodlawn Central is for everyone," said lead developer J. Byron Brazier.

The $580 million mixed-use project will transform the parking lots owned and surrounding the church. The plan is to build nearly 900 mixed residential units, a theater, and a greenhouse along the 63rd Street Metra stop, to name a few.

It's the idea of Pastor Dr. Byron T. Brazier and his son, inspired by his grandfather.

"Too often we have folks who are not from our community, who are not from even the city of Chicago, who want to invest in our community," said Ald. Jeannette Taylor (20th).

With the new development, there are concerns that it will raise property taxes and some question whether the affordable housing units will truly be affordable.

"I am more against it than for it and I feel kind of sad to say that," said resident Dominic Surya.

Surya has lived in Woodlawn for 13 years. As someone who chairs the board of an affordable housing nonprofit, he is hesitant about what might happen to property taxes once Woodlawn Central goes up. He says they doubled recently, boosting rent prices.

"I would like to tell the residents, don't worry, this is a one-time thing, but actually I have to tell the residents if you think it's bad now, we really have to buckle down for what's coming," he said.

Surya also says the affordable unit prices in the development are not apparent right now.

J. Byron Brazier responded to that concern.  

"While we are developing, we are actually putting in a workforce where it does become affordable," he said.

The plan will bring 700 new permanent jobs and Brazier says they want to cap rent based on income. Same with capping property taxes for current Woodlawn homeowners.

"We definitely are looking and working with the county assessor's office to see what we can do in creating some innovation around taxes," he said.

The first phase will be two 14-story towers of residential units, a hotel, and a food market. As of now, construction will start next August.

The project is all paid for by the church, state grants, and private donors. Church leaders say they will require taxpayer money at some point for infrastructure, landscaping and affordable housing.