WHA to Redevelop Barwell Manor Homes

For more information contact:
Mr. Charles J. Chambers, Jr.
Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer
847-244-8500

Waukegan Housing Authority to redevelop Barwell Manor Homes utilizing HUD's Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD)

The Waukegan Housing Authority (WHA), under the leadership of its Board of Commissioners, led by Ms. Eleanor Murkey, Chairman and its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Charles J. Chambers Jr., took a major step toward participating in the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) process by submitting its formal request to HUD and by selecting a development partner to redevelop Barwell Manor Homes (Barwell) property.

The WHA will redevelop Barwell Manor Homes, which consist of 120 units within the City of Waukegan. According to Mr. Chambers, "this is the first major public housing redevelopment since the property was first constructed in 1965. The redevelopment of Barwell Manor Homes will work as a catalyst along the South Sheridan corridor for future development."

A recent physical needs assessment has determined that the 53-year-old Barwell Manor Homes has a significant number of building systems and infrastructure needs that have passed their useful life expectancy. The WHA conducted two (2) information sessions with the Barwell residents to review the RAD conversion planning process and to discuss future redevelopment plans. The WHA will schedule future listening sessions to get additional input from Barwell Manor Homes residents, City of Waukegan, and various community-based stakeholders.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), each year, thousands of units of public housing are demolished and thousands more sit vacant because they are no longer decent, safe or sanitary. In 2017, HUD announced that its Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) officially surpassed $4 billion in capital investment to make critical repairs and improvements to this segment of the nation's affordable housing stock.

The Barwell Manor Homes RAD project will be a mixed-finance transaction, utilizing Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Federal Home Loan - AHP funds, WHA's Capital Funds, and a host of other sources to make the redevelopment a success.