Mayor Brandon Johnson attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Imani Village Senior Residence in Pullman, marking the completion of a new affordable housing development aimed at serving seniors. The event was also attended by Alderwoman Michelle Harris (8th), Department of Housing Commissioner Lissette Castañeda, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, members of Trinity United Church of Christ, local leaders, and residents.
The Imani Village Senior Residence adds 70 affordable homes to the Pullman neighborhood and is part of a broader effort to increase independent living options for older adults. The project forms one component of the larger Imani Village master plan under development in the area.
“As we work to build up housing access throughout Chicago, we must remember that people deserve not just stable housing, but dignity and security in every facet of their lives,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Imani Village is a shining example of what we can deliver for Chicagoans through deliberate, community-driven investments. This development centers the needs of our seniors while ensuring they can remain connected to their families and neighbors.”
Alderwoman Michelle Harris commented on the collaborative nature of the project: “I’m thrilled to celebrate the opening of our new state-of-the-art, Imani Village Senior Residence, proudly developed by Trinity United Church of Christ, led by Pastor Otis Moss III and his Imani Village development team. This milestone reflects our shared commitment to safe, dignified, and affordable senior housing in the 8th Ward. Thanks to the leadership and collaboration of Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Housing, we are turning a vision into reality.”
Located at 9621 S. Cottage Grove Ave., the five-story building features 60 one-bedroom units and 10 two-bedroom apartments with rents starting from $214 up to $1,140 per month depending on income level. Eight units are reserved for residents earning 15% of area median income (AMI), eight for those at 30% AMI, and 54 for those at 60% AMI.
The City’s Department of Housing provided $13.9 million in financing and capital support for this initiative as part of its ongoing strategy to expand affordable housing across Chicago.
“Pullman is a culturally rich, historic neighborhood with a significant senior population, so it’s crucial that they have the opportunity to age in place, independently, while being supported by a community of their peers,” said Lissette Castañeda. “Imani Village is an excellent representation of what that can look like. Seniors often have fixed incomes and sometimes limited mobility, so they deserve housing specifically tailored to their needs.”
In addition to increasing available housing stock for seniors, Imani Village aims to benefit Pullman as a whole by generating jobs—149 construction positions were created during development—and economic activity while fostering intergenerational living through partnerships with local health providers and social service organizations.
Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III stated: “The Imani Village Senior housing project establishes an eco-friendly and five-star accommodations for elders in our community. We celebrate this milestone of community collaboration, strategic planning, vision casting and sweat equity put forth by our Imani Village team.”
The residence meets Enterprise Green Certification standards with provisions for rooftop solar installation and includes various communal spaces designed to promote social connections among residents. There are also 26 parking spaces on site.
Situated near commercial corridors and public transit—including proximity to the 95th/Dan Ryan Red Line station—the location is accessible both locally and citywide.
The joint venture behind this project includes Trinity United Church of Christ, SPM Properties & Development LLC., and Trinity 95th & Cottage Grove Planned Community Development Series LLC., all working within Trinity’s larger ownership footprint in Pullman.
Construction met city requirements regarding workforce participation; at least half the labor hours were completed by Chicago residents. Subcontracting surpassed targets set for minority- (26%) and woman-owned (6%) business enterprise involvement.
Mayor Johnson continues efforts through his Build Better Together initiative which places affordable home construction at the center of economic development strategies citywide. His administration has also advanced policies such as the Green Social Housing ordinance—making Chicago the first major U.S. city with this model—and established funding mechanisms like a revolving loan fund using proceeds from a $1.25 billion bond issue intended to boost mixed-income developments across neighborhoods.