La Casa Norte and LBBA are continuing their partnership with the rehabilitation of the historic 18,388-square-foot North Hotel in Humboldt Park. Built in the 1920s, the building originally operated as a 39-unit SRO hotel before being converted into market-rate micro units in 2018. The renovation is in partnership with Chicago’s Department of Housing’s Non-congregate Shelter Acquisition program, which aims to create more critically needed shelter housing. This renovation restores the historic SRO building to its original mission of serving Chicago’s underserved communities. 

 

Under La Casa Norte, the building will be transformed into a 41-unit non-congregate transitional shelter for youth ages 18-24 operating 24/7. The ground floor will house a flexible community center for drop-in programs and dining, a commercial kitchen, offices, and two new accessible shelter units.  The existing microunits on the upper floors will provide efficient and private space to the tenants for up to 120 days while they transition to more permanent housing. The renovation on the ground floor will bring vital support to the new tenants and enliven the historic storefronts along California Avenue.