Missing Middle Two-Flats Coming to McKinley Park

Five new two-flat residential buildings are set for West 34th Place in Chicago’s McKinley Park neighborhood, thanks to the City of Chicago’s Missing Middle Housing Initiative, which selected Urbanism LLC for the $4.4 million project.

The two-flats will be built near the CSX railroad viaduct at the street’s dead end on city-owned lots from 2438-2444 W. 34th Place, Chicago. They’re part of Missing Middle’s third round of projects to rejuvenate vacant lots at five locations across the city.

“These developments will put vacant city lots into productive use, bring attractive and much-needed infill housing to local blocks while creating home-ownership opportunities that build community wealth,” said Ciere Boatright, commissioner for the Chicago Department of Planning and Development.

Lots for $1

Selected from a total of 37 applicants, the five Missing Middle finalists will get to purchase the city lots for $1 each. 

The buildings will be sold at market rates to owner-occupants earing up to 140 percent of the area median income, or $134,000 annually for a two-person household.

Pending Bond Approval

Each unit could also get up to $150,000 in funding assistance for each housing unit, pending approval by the Chicago City Council for Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed housing and economic development bond.

To date, the Missing Middle program has advanced 307 projects across the city: in the McKinley Park neighborhood and also North Lawndale, East Garfield Park, Chatham, West Garfield Park, South Chicago and Morgan Park.