Chicago Center for Arts and Technology, Inc. (ChiCAT)
PLG was retained to provide development consulting services in the development of the ChiCAT office building, an adult vocational training and youth arts and technology center. ChiCAT will be located at 1701 W. 13 th Street,Chicago, Illinois in the Near West Side community area and Illinois Medical District/University Village neighborhood of Chicago. The existing building is four-stories comprised of approximately 30,000 square feet and will be totally renovated. The project has a development budget of $12.2M. Capital sources include $3.9M in New Market Tax Credits and $8.3M in individual donor contributions. The project closed on financing in December 2015 and construction completed in January 2017.
People’s Community Development Association of Chicago and National Housing
Partnership Foundation – PLG was retained to provide development consulting services in the
development of “Harvest Homes Apartments.” Harvest Homes Apartments will be a newly
constructed 36 unit multi-family rental development comprised of 4 buildings with 2, 3 and 4 bedroom rental apartments. The project has a development budget of $13M. Capital sources include an annual allocation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and Tax Incremental Financing (TIF). Harvest Homes, is being leveraged by private first mortgage financing from Chase Bank and
additional grants are being sought from the Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity(DCEO), and Federal Home Loan Bank-Chicago; sponsorship is also being provided
by Chase Bank/One Mortgage Partners. The project closed on financing December 2016. Pre-
development financing was provided by the CCLF.
LaCasa Norte, Inc. – a not-for- profit and crisis intervention center located within the Humboldt
Park community on Chicago’s westside. PLG was retained to provide real estate development
consulting services in the construction of a new four-story building comprised of 25 units of
supportive family housings, administrative and program offices and a federally qualified health
center (FQHC). The project has an estimated development budget of $19M. Capital sources include a private first mortgage, New Market Tax Credits, Tax Incremental Financing, Illinois Affordable Housing Donation Tax Credits, foundation and individual contributions. Project based rental subsidy from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Pre-development financing provided by LISC Chicago. Finance closing is projected for spring of 2017.
West Humboldt Park Family & Community Development Council – a not-for- profit
economic development organization that formed the First Community Land Trust of Chicago.
PLG was retained to provide development consulting service in the development of “West
Humboldt Park Homes” comprised of 10 new single-family homes utilizing the community land
trust model to ensure long-term affordability within the West Humboldt Park community area.
PLG successfully secured construction financing from the Illinois Facility Fund, purchaser subsidies
from the City of Chicago Department of Housing, “New Homes for Chicago Program,” and individual donations utilizing Illinois Affordable Housing Donation Tax Credits. Additional below market rate secondary mortgage financing and down-payment assistance from the Illinois Housing Development Authority has also been secured for home buyers with incomes below 50% of the Chicago area median income.
Harriet Tubman Apartments Corporation, NFP – a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brand New
Beginnings, Inc., a not-for- profit organization that provides supportive housing to homeless women
and their children. PLG has been retained to provide development consulting services in the
development of “Harriet Tubman Apartments.” PLG has successfully secured 3.9 million dollars
for the acquisition and renovation of a 28-unit multi-family building in the Washington Park
community on Chicago’s south side. Funding includes the City of Chicago Department of Housing-
HOME, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development-SHP & SPC, the Illinois Housing Development Authority Trust Funds and Corporation for Supportive Housing.
LaCasa Norte, Inc. – a not-for- profit and crisis intervention center located within the Humboldt
Park community on Chicago’s west side. PLG provided real estate development consulting services
in the renovation of a three-story building to provide supportive housing for 16 homeless male
youth. PLG secured $1.3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban
Development, City of Chicago Department of Housing, Illinois Affordable Housing Donation Tax
Credits, Federal Home Loan Bank, ComEd, and Department of Commerce & Economic
Opportunity – Energy Program.
Woodlawn East Community and Neighbors, Inc. (WECAN) – a community and housing
development organization in Chicago, Illinois. PLG provided consulting services in the
development of “Butler/Lindon Apartments,” a 42-unit supportive housing renovations project
with a 4.8 million dollar budget. Funding was secured from the City of Chicago Department of
Housing-HOME, Illinois Housing Development Authority-Affordable Housing Program, and
Federal Home Loan Bank, Cole Taylor Bank, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development-Supportive Housing Program and Section 8 McKinney, and Illinois Department of
Commerce and Community Affairs-Energy Program. Dec. 97 – Dec. 00
Organizational Assessments & Organizational Capacity Building
LISC Chicago – On behalf of LISC Chicago, PLG developed a due diligence tool and completed an
analysis of the fiscal, operational, management and leadership capacity of 14 NCP lead agencies as it
relates to the implementation the LISC New Communities Program. 2012
South Shore Chamber, Inc. – a not-for- profit chamber of commerce based in Chicago, Illinois.
PLG prepared an organizational assessment report with recommendations. They also prepared an organizational assessment report funded by LISC Chicago with support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 2012
New Visions Community Development Corporation – a community development corporation
in New Orleans, LA. PLG prepared an organizational assessment report that was funded by the
New Orleans Neighborhood Development Collaborative (NONDC) for the 1999 Ford Foundation
Capacity Building Program
Technical Assistance & Program Design
The Chicago Community Trust and the 2016 Fund, an affiliate of the Trust - PLG was
retained to implement, manage and provide project oversight for the young adult component of a
program called “Chicago Neighborhood JobStart.” JobStart was a Transitional Job program
designed to provide Chicago residents with comprehensive training set in a real work environment
that would lead to unsubsidized employment. The program provided assistance to youth adults (16-
21) and adults who were eligible for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). Funding was provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Emergency Contingency Fund
for TANF and The 2016 Fund for Chicago Neighborhoods. PLG services included but were not
limited to developing the operations procedures manual, training and monitoring grantees,
processing voucher requests and ensuring contract compliance. April 2010 – January 2011
City of Chicago Mayor’s office, Department of Youth and Family Services and Chicago
Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) – PLG was retained to design and implement a
summer youth internship program. The program provided a six-week paid internship, life skills and
job readiness training to over 900 youth between the ages of 14-21 years old within targeted LISC
New Communities Program community areas. June 07, 08 & 09
CHAC, Inc. /Chicago Housing Authority – PLG was retained to design and assist in the
implementation of the Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program, “Choose to Own”
which allows voucher holders to utilize their voucher to purchase a home. PLG was responsible for
developing the program design, guidelines, documents, and establishing partnership agreements with
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, City of Chicago Department of Housing, NHS, local banks, housing
counseling agencies, legal counsel and other public sector entities. Sept. 00 – Sept. 03
Women’s Business Development Center – a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the
U.S. Department of Small Business Administration and Illinois Department of Commerce &
Community Affairs. PLG develop a program design model and written procedural and policy
manual for a child care micro-loan fund. . Oct. 01
Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) National Field Strategies Office - a national
nonprofit community development intermediary based in New York, New York. PLG conducted an
analysis of the City of Little Rock housing delivery system and potential improvements that can
be made with both the City’s systems, nonprofit and for-profit affordable housing developers. Co-
authored a final report titled, “City Systems Review and Improvement; Findings and
Recommendations for the City of Little Rock.” May 97
Sedaka International on behalf of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs – prepared a report for
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the funding needs of community based organizations within
Chicago, Illinois. July 92
Training & Workshops
Wisconsin Housing Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) – Co-Instructor, Course”
Multi-Family Housing Development.” 2013 – 2017
Chicago Rehab Network- Housing Development Training Institute Co-Instructor, Course “Multi-
Family Housing Development and Single Family Housing Development.” 1999 - Present
Chicago Community Loan Fund – Project Readiness Workshop (PRW), “Financial Feasibility.”
2002- Present