(CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL) – The Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 13, 2024 to celebrate the opening of Otto Veterans Square, an affordable housing development for veterans located in downtown Chicago Heights, IL. Otto Veterans Square is an 82-unit, four-story development located at 1440 Otto Boulevard on the former site of St. James Hospital. The $30.8 million project includes modern apartments that provide veterans with safe and comfortable residence.
“This is truly a beautiful, thoughtfully designed building by HED and partners that our veterans can be proud to call home,” said Danita W. Childers, Executive Director, Housing Authority of Cook County. “This development is a standing reflection of our commitment to address veteran homelessness in the community and contribute to the revitalization of downtown Chicago Heights.”
The property represents the first new development to emerge from the Downtown/East Side Choice Neighborhoods Plan, which was jointly developed by the City of Chicago Heights and the Housing Authority of Cook County and funded by a $350,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“Today marks an important step in our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every veteran in Cook County has access to safe, dignified, and affordable housing,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “Otto Veterans Square is more than just a building; it is a testament to our dedication to the men and women who have served our country and a meaningful contribution to the revitalization of Chicago Heights. I commend the Housing Authority of Cook County, the City of Chicago Heights, the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, and all our partners for their unwavering collaboration and hard work in bringing this vision to life.”
The Housing Authority of Cook County secured financing through partnerships with several organizations, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development (BED), the National Equity Fund (NEF), BMO, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, Wintrust Bank, the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program and Nicor.
“ComEd is proud of our work with the Housing Authority of Cook County to ensure energy-efficiency measures are included in Otto Veterans Square that will help provide a comfortable environment for veteran tenants but also help them save money and energy,” said Bonita Estelle, ComEd’s external affairs manager for the Southland Region. “These efforts are estimated to save 1.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, which helps avoid more than 920,000 pounds of carbon being emitted into the atmosphere. This is the equivalent of planting nearly 500 acres of trees or removing almost 100 cars from the road each year.”
In addition to providing affordable housing, Otto Veterans Square will offer comprehensive supportive services through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Respond Now. The VA will provide a range of veteran-specific services, including an onsite social worker, healthcare, mental health counseling, and access to peer support specialists, ensuring that residents receive the care and support they deserve. Respond Now, a local nonprofit based in Chicago Heights, will offer additional supportive services such as case management, access to community resources and emergency assistance, tailored to meet the unique needs of veterans. Together, these partnerships ensure that Otto Veterans Square residents receive a holistic network of care and resources to help them build stable, fulfilling lives in their new community.
“Otto Square Veterans Housing represents the pinnacle of what we can achieve when the federal government supports the vision of local leaders and public, private, and non-profit partners,” said Richard J. Monocchio, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public and Indian Housing at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, and former HACC Executive Director. “The Biden-Harris Administration’s work to end veteran homelessness would not be possible without the focused and collaborative efforts of amazing partners like the Housing Authority of Cook County and the City of Chicago Heights to ensure that every veteran has a roof over their head and the support they need when they return home.”
Following the ribbon cutting, guests were invited to view a model apartment and finished spaces with the design team. Otto Veterans Square offers residents a range of amenities, including an exercise room, media room, walking paths, and raised planting beds for community gardens. The property is pet-friendly, with designated spaces for service animals both indoors and outdoors. Additionally, the building provides 82 parking spots, including spaces for handicap and electric vehicles.
