The West Humboldt Park neighborhood is located just west of Kedzie Avenue and the historic 207-acre Humboldt Park. Once home to immigrants of Eastern European decent, it is increasingly becoming more diverse. Within the West Humboldt Park area in 2009, 6.56% of the population is over the age of 65 and 59.41% are of working age (18-64).  

The racial distribution of the community has best been characterized as primarily African American and Hispanic with a growing number of white, Asian and other ethnic groups moving into the community in the past recent years. 

 

NeighborWorks Day, "Dreaming for Drake," June 2011

Like many Chicago communities, the West Humboldt Park area has faced its challenges with gang violence, drugs and housing problems, despite this, it is a community that is making very positive changes.  Today, West Humboldt Park is seeing improvements.  The main commercial district Chicago Avenue, is home to new businesses. The housing stock is hot real estate, due to close proximity to downtown and rapidly appreciating neighborhoods to the northeast. Recent institutional developments include a 69-unit Interfaith Housing complex, expanded services at Chicago Commons’ Settlement House, and a 72-unit senior housing facility.  A very attractive shopping plaza is located at the corner of Kedzie and Chicago Avenue, a new Burger King at the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Pulaski and a the beautiful Rowe Clark Math and Science Academy right on Chicago Avenue.  Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago positioned one of its eight Chicago offices in the center of all of this development several years ago so that the organizations could continue to revitalize the community and help to celebrate its ongoing growth through involvement, assistance and support of housing needs.

 

The West Humboldt Park Community is a very active place to live.  There are over 50 strong block clubs with very active residents.  The long term residents are very involved in their CAPS meetings and community events.  The new residents are vested in being involved in the positive growth and changes of the community.  While the community may see a small percentage of problems, there is a greater percentage of families living and moving into West Humboldt seeking to be a part of a friendly, caring and revitalizing community.  The community is also fortunate to have good leadership among its elected officials, and commitment from nonprofit organizations that work closely together for the good of West Humboldt.

 

There are other exciting changes that continue to take place in West Humboldt Park.  Within the next year, the Chicago Department of Transportation will improve Chicago Avenue between Grand Avenue and Laramie Avenue.  The transformation of this street will include new lighting, new pavements, trees, new landscape, resurfacing of the streets and much more.  Current Small Business Incentive Funds (SBIF) are also being made available to local small businesses for the improvement of their store façade which will dramatically change the appearance of Chicago Avenue and help to bring more business to the community.

Since 1981, NHS has had significant success rebuilding confidence in the northern section of the West Humboldt Park neighborhood (north of Division) with marked increases in property maintenance standards and homeownership rates. It has worked with CAPS to develop an effective resident leadership network to combat gang and drug activity. NHS has also created dramatic change in some expanded “Super Blocks” by integrating vacant building acquisition/rehab with an aggressive push against drug activity, resulting in highly visible public improvements.  

 

During the FY2009 Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago’s West Humboldt Park office leveraged over $1,279,877 in loans impacting 8 families through our buy, keep and fix your home lending services.  A total of 20 families were saved from foreclosure and  4 new homeowners were created.   We expect to increase these numbers during the 2010 fiscal year, especially with the development of new homes through the West Humboldt Park Development Council which plans to build 30 homes within the next couple of years.  

 

Loans in West Humboldt	FY2008 Outcomes	FY2009 Outcomes
Total West Humboldt Park Office Loans	$1,425,112	$1,279,877
Total Conventional Loans Leveraged	0	$380,405
Total Properties Affected by Loans	9	10
Distribution of NHS West Humboldt Loans
Newly created homeowners	3	2
Home improvement loans	2	2
Homeownership Preservation	3	3

Currently, there are over 160 properties for sale in all of Humboldt Park.  It is a great opportunity for new families to find affordable homes with an average price of $135,000 and median sale price of $58,000.     

 

Moving forward, NHS will continue to stabilize the community by improving housing  stock, preserving homeownership, cultivating affordable purchase opportunities for new homeowners. It will utilize outreach, education, direct lending, property acquisition and rehab, and development of Phase II of New Homes for Chicago. It will also leverage its partnerships with the 11th District Police Department/CAPS, the West Humboldt Development Council, Chicago Commons, Block Club Network the 34th Ward Alderman’s office, and the LISC New Communities Program. 

 

We hope you will visit our office at 3601 West Chicago Avenue and take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about new homeowner, home improvement or obtain the support you need to keep your home when times get rough.  We are here to help you and improve the communities we serve.