Community investment

Transforming a vacant 33,000 sq ft lot to a brilliant, mid-rise, affordable housing development, required a team of experts, thoughtful planning and a community investment. The Interfaith Housing Development Corporation (IHDC) purchased the lot from the Village of Maywood, Illinois, to build an apartment complex to support low-income families that are substantially below the area medium income, homeless veterans or residents with disabilities. The project was on a fast-tracked schedule to relieve pressure on the local homeless shelters.

After two years of planning and offsite development, the attractive, five-story, prefabricated building was assembled in 35 days to accommodate the immediate housing needs. The use of precast supported this fast-paced build and occupancy timeline. Wells manufactured and erected interior and exterior architectural wall panels embellished with thin brick, form liner and a limestone sandblast finish. The insulated panels not only offer a sustainable building solution, but also provide longer-term durability than cast in place concrete.

The final complex features 72 units ranging from studios to three-bedroom residential units, a 5,500 sq ft designated retail space, and extensive shared community space, quickly becoming fully occupied.

Exterior Fifth Avenue Apartments
A wide-shot of the IHDC Fifth Avenue Apartments, located in Maywood, Illinois.