Innovative Affordable Housing Development Opens in East Garfield Park
Fifth City Commons, which opened in December, features 43 mixed-income apartments and 4,500 square feet of commercial space, plus resident amenities and extensive measures to maximize energy efficiency. Located in the heart of East Garfield Park at 3155 W. 5th Ave., Fifth City is the first phase of a two-phased development that will include affordable homeownership opportunities across the street.
“With the opening of Fifth City Commons we have reached an incredible milestone in the creation of more affordable housing options for residents,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “This development will not only create safe, affordable, and sustainable housing, but it will help to revitalize and bring business opportunities to the East Garfield Park community. I look forward to keeping up this momentum to bring more transformative developments like this one to neighborhoods that have been historically left behind.”
“Fifth City Commons is a great example of the kind of neighborhood investment we are bringing to the community. It’s beautiful, it’s affordable and it will help attract additional development,” said Alderman Jason Ervin. “We look forward to the next phase here and to all of the other projects in process in the 28th Ward.”
Fifth City was designed and built to Passive House standards, the premier level of environmental sustainability in multifamily construction. A 100% electric building, it will include extensive rooftop solar photovoltaic panels; robust insulation, an airtight building enclosure; high-efficiency HVAC system; as well as rain gardens and native plantings to manage stormwater. Fifth City’s residential space is designed to be so energy efficient that residents’ utility bills are projected to be low.
Fifth City Commons is a wonderful example of how to combine affordability and community investment with environmental sustainability,” said POAH Vice President Molly Ekerdt, the lead project manager. “We are so grateful to the many public, community and private partners that helped us conceive of and execute on this effort.”