Chicago Construction News staff writer
The Village of Bellwood has broken ground on a transformative $43 million Gateway Apartment and Retail Development project, designed to rejuvenate the community and address the urgent need for workforce housing.
The project is led by construction manager and developer F.H. Paschen, an Illinois-based construction company with more than 100 years of experience in Chicago and its suburbs, including various workforce housing projects.
The development is a collaborative project between Paschhen, the Village of Bellwood, the State of Illinois and Mesirow Public Finance and promises to meet the growing demand for workforce housing in West Suburban Cook County, the developer says in a statement.
The project is the first-ever workforce housing development to utilize workforce housing bonds anywhere in Illinois.
“Today, we celebrate more than the start of construction. This project represents F.H. Paschen’s commitment to building better communities through the creation of workforce housing in Bellwood,” said James Blair, President and CEO of F.H. Paschen. “This project is a testament to what a community can achieve through collaboration and vision. In particular, the work of Speaker Chris Welch – who provided the initial grant to make workforce housing possible in the Village of Bellwood.”
Scheduled for completion in Spring 2026, this new workforce housing project has been financed through a combination of private investment, a State of Illinois grant and the innovative use of workforce housing bonds, marking a milestone in community development financing in Suburban Cook County.
“Every great village has a great downtown, and I am so honored to break ground on a longtime dream come true for myself and more importantly for the residents,” said Bellwood Mayor André F. Harvey. “The Bellwood Gateway Project is a gateway to Bellwood’s future.
“A special thanks to everyone at FH Paschen, Mesirow Financial and DesignBridge that played pivotal roles.”