Chicago Construction News staff writer
Winstanley Park, a $13 million affordable housing development, has officially opened near downtown East St. Louis, delivering 38 modern apartments and townhomes along with a range of community amenities.
The project transformed a long-vacant industrial site into 10 adaptive reuse apartments and added 12 garden units and 16 newly constructed townhomes. Units range from one to four bedrooms and are designed primarily for families earning at or below 60% of the area median income. Residences feature open floor plans, in-unit washers and dryers, and fully equipped kitchens.
A community center, operated by the Sinai Family Life Center and set to begin construction later this year, will offer free after-school childcare and family services for residents.
“This development restores hope, stability, and opportunity to families while transforming once-abandoned property into a cornerstone of community pride,” said Dennis Jackson, executive director of Mt. Sinai Development Corporation.
Winstanley Park is the third phase of a long-term revitalization plan for the neighborhood, which has already seen 60 single-family rental homes financed over the past 17 years. The master plan envisions more than 220 new homes, a home repair fund for existing homeowners, new recreational facilities, and commercial investment.
Funding for the project included Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and COVID-19 Affordable Housing Grant dollars from IHDA, a HOME Investment Partnership Program loan from St. Clair County, a sponsor loan from Mt. Sinai Development Corporation, and a construction loan from Midland State Bank.
