What Happened With the New Back of the Yards Homes?
Launching a broader South and West Side housing push, the Resurrection Project completed an initial phase of two new homes on previously vacant lots in the 5000 block of South Aberdeen in Back of the Yards.
The effort is part of a larger plan to build 28 homes this year for low-income families, with a long-term goal of 2,000 homes across Chicago’s South and West sides. Similar efforts elsewhere have relied on multiple funding sources to sustain affordable housing expansion over time.
Affordability Pressures
Each home costs about $500,000 to construct but is priced at $315,000 for buyers.
City and state aid close the $185,000 gap, expanding access to affordable homeownership.
Mayor Brandon Johnson joined a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Officials said replacing empty lots can improve safety and attract investment.
The broader initiative also supports neighborhood stabilization through community gardens, tenant workshops, and sustained public-private coordination. The partnership combines city and private resources to fund the homes.
Where Are the 4 New Homes Located?
Beyond the confirmed activity in Back of the Yards, available reporting does not identify the exact addresses or street locations of the four new homes.
Current sources confirm development activity in the neighborhood, but they do not provide a street-by-street accounting. No parcel numbers, block references, or mapped sites appear in the cited material.
Limits of Public Detail
What is available points to a broader housing effort tied to Back of the Yards and other South and West Side areas. However, it does not isolate a specific four-building push with verifiable placement.
Without project documents, community mapping records, or city filings, the precise locations remain unconfirmed. The same gap applies to related details such as lot boundaries, nearby landmarks, and tenant profiles linked to these four homes specifically. In other cities, large redevelopment efforts tied to downtown revitalization have shown how public-facing project details can shape understanding of location and community impact.
Who Is Building These Back of the Yards Homes?
While the exact sites remain unclear, the leadership behind the Back of the Yards housing push is more clearly defined.
The Resurrection Project is leading the effort through a Community Partnership centered on neighborhood needs and long-term stability.
Its approach emphasizes making homeownership more accessible for Chicago families while tying housing to broader community resources.
Key partners include United Power for Action and Justice and Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation.
Together, they frame the initiative as a community-driven response to barriers that have limited local housing opportunity.
The broader development team also includes support from Mayor Brandon Johnson, the City of Chicago, the Chicago Community Trust, and private financial partners.
That combination places the housing plan within a larger mixed-use revitalization strategy aimed at economic opportunity, neighborhood pride, and Back of the Yards preservation.
How Much Will the New Homes Cost?
How Much Will the New Homes Cost?
Home prices in Back of the Yards point to a likely affordability target below much of Chicago. The exact pricing for the planned new homes has not been publicly released.
Current neighborhood figures suggest market positioning closer to local norms than to higher-priced nearby areas. Median home prices range from roughly $195,000 to about $199,949, while the average sale price is $207,421.
That remains well below Chicago’s average list price of $353,936.
Cost Signals
Listings span from $39,900 to $350,000, showing a broad market but generally lower entry points. Single-family sales have a median of $189,500, and average pricing runs about $148 per square foot.
Those benchmarks imply new homes could land above older resale stock because of construction costs. They may still aim below nearby markets such as Bronzeville or Archer Heights.
What’s Next for Back of the Yards Housing?
Momentum is shifting in Back of the Yards, from isolated infill to a broader housing pipeline.
Resurrection Project is moving from ribbon-cuttings to scaled delivery. It has completed and sold 19 homes and started 28 more for working families.
Its model combines construction with homebuyer counseling and up to $15,000 in down payment help.
Next steps will depend on larger partnerships and a stronger land strategy. Through Reclaiming Chicago and collaboration with United Power for Action and Justice, the effort ties Back of the Yards to a 2,000-home target across South and West Side neighborhoods.
Community land trusts could play a bigger role as affordability pressures increase.
Transit access and mixed-use development will also shape what comes next. United Yards includes a 51-unit affordable housing component, retail space, and future phases backed by TIF and grant funding.
Unused lots are increasingly being treated as assets for both housing and neighborhood safety.
Assessment
The four-home proposal marks a measured but notable housing expansion in Back of the Yards.
Its approval signals continued investment pressure in a neighborhood balancing affordability, redevelopment, and limited new supply.
With pricing expected to test local demand, the project reflects broader tensions shaping Chicago’s South Side housing market.
What follows will depend on construction progress, buyer response, and whether similar small-scale developments gain traction as land constraints and housing needs intensify across the area.
