The first two of 120 modular homes that will be built under a $12 million Cook County pilot program to increase homeownership have been completed.
The residences, located on the 800 block of North Homan Avenue in Chicago’s Humboldt Park, were built on vacant lots provided by the Cook County Land Bank Authority, which provided 12 parcels to the nonprofit developer Inherentance.
Inherentance builds the homes in its North Lawndale facility on Chicago’s West Side over an eight-week period before delivering them to the site. Several other homes going up under the Cook County Modular Homes Pilot Program are nearing completion.
“These modular homes will provide affordable, quality housing in communities of need, and we are grateful to our many partners for their collaboration,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said in a press release. “Our hope is this program will make homeownership more accessible for individuals and families and break down financial barriers that have historically kept many families from owning a home.”
Other Cook County communities slated to receive homes under the program include Chicago Heights and Proviso Township. Those earning 120% of the county’s median income may apply for the program.
Other forms of assistance include the Cook County Down Payment Assistance Program, which provides subsidies of 5% of a home’s sale price or $25,000, whichever is less, and the Cook County Land Bank’s Purchase Assistance Program, which provides grants of up to $20,000 or 6% of a home’s purchase price.
The 12 Humboldt Park homes will encompass 1,445 square feet each and have three bedrooms and two bathrooms across two floors. They will be all-electric, with Google Smart Home technology, two parking spaces and fenced-in yards.
“The modular homes pilot is an innovative step toward addressing the housing gap by turning underutilized lots into high-quality, affordable homes,” Cook County Land Bank Executive Director Jessica Caffrey said. “By partnering with developers like Inherentance, we’re not only creating new homeownership opportunities but also investing in the long-term stability and growth of communities like Humboldt Park.”