Chicago-based McHugh Construction along with its joint venture partner Brown & Momen, a minority-owned business enterprise, announced they have completed the $24.3 million construction of 508 Pershing at Oakwood Shores, a four-story, 53-unit affordable apartment development in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Developed by The Community Builders (TCB), the mixed-use, mixed-income building is part of the larger Oakwood Shores revitalization plan.

“This project exemplifies the power of a public-private partnership to complete a much-needed mixed-income community for Bronzeville residents and retailers,” said Mike Meagher, president of McHugh Construction. “It has also been rewarding to be part of a project that will positively impact an entire South Side neighborhood.”

TCB’s partners in the project include Granite Development, Ujima, the Chicago Department of Housing, 4th Ward Alderman Sophia King, the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), and UnitedHealth Group.

Staying on budget is always a top priority in construction, but even more so for affordable housing developments with strict budgets, noted Meagher. Despite supply chain issues and construction material delays, McHugh’s project managers and engineers devised solutions to minimize impacts to the budget and schedule.

“I’m proud of our joint venture project team that was able to identify cost savings and alternative materials while still delivering a high-quality building,” said Meagher. “Through collaboration with ownership and project designers, we found savings in façade materials, structural framing, finishes, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.”

Located on land formerly occupied by the Chicago Housing Authority’s Ida B. Wells, Madden Park and Clarence Darrow Homes, the 55,000-square-foot building offers 50 one-bedroom and three two-bedroom units, 7,000 square feet of amenity space, management offices and 3,500 square feet of street-level retail.

Designed by Nia Architects in collaboration with Antunovich Associates, the building offers a resident lounge, meeting rooms, fitness center, top floor amenity lounge, bike storage and dog wash area. Apartments feature in-unit laundry, a dishwasher, plank flooring and extra storage. The building structure consists of a combination of a traditional steel and precast podium for Level 1 with three stories of cold-formed panelized steel stud bearing walls and floor joists. An adjacent surface lot provides 42 parking spaces for building residents and retail guests.

Thirty-six of the development’s 53 units are Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) units for households earning up to 80% of the area median household income, with the remaining 17 units being market-rate. National Affordable Housing Trust (NAHT) provided funding for 508 Pershing in partnership with investor UnitedHealth Group.

About McHugh Construction:

Since its founding in 1897, McHugh Construction has earned its reputation as a builder of landmark, one-of-a-kind structures in Chicago and other areas of the country. The company specializes in managing multimillion-dollar projects, from ground-up new construction to complex renovations and high-end interiors. As a multi-faceted general contractor, McHugh constructs high-rise concrete towers; steel structures; and buildings using alternative materials such as cold-formed steel, heavy timber and cross-laminated timber. McHugh has built and renovated iconic structures such as Chicago’s Marina City, St. Regis Chicago, Trump Tower, Aqua Tower, Blackstone Hotel, Navy Pier (including the 200-foot-tall Centennial Wheel; the Sable Hotel at Navy Pier, and the Offshore Rooftop and Bar), as well as other noteworthy projects in regional markets. The company’s mission has always been to promote a seamless and positive project experience with excellence and innovation. It is known for its unwavering commitment to its clients, its ability to deliver exceptional results on time and within budget, and its dedication to growing and developing its partnerships with subcontractors. For more information on the company, visit www.mchughconstruction.com.

About Brown & Momen, Inc.:

Founded by Ernest Brown in 1988, Brown & Momen, Inc. continues its 30-year legacy of providing quality general contracting, construction management and carpentry services in the Greater Chicagoland area. Brown & Momen employs experienced tradespeople who, working with key professionals (with over 300 collective years of expertise in estimating, executing, planning and managing all aspects of the construction process), provide quality services to both the private and public sectors. As an award-winning firm located on the South Side, Brown & Momen has a demonstrated commitment to both minority and resident businesses within the city of Chicago – always meeting, and typically exceeding, established goals for utilizing economically disadvantaged firms and tradespeople on our projects.

508 Pershing Exterior: McHugh Construction and Brown & Momen, Inc., have completed 508 Pershing at Oakwood Shores, a 53-unit mixed-use affordable housing development in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. (Credit: Nia Architects)
508 Pershing Dining: McHugh Construction and Brown & Momen, Inc., have completed 508 Pershing at Oakwood Shores, a 53-unit mixed-use affordable housing development in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Apartments feature in-unit laundry, a dishwasher, plank flooring and extra storage. (Credit: Nia Architects)
508 Pershing Living: McHugh Construction and Brown & Momen, Inc., have completed 508 Pershing at Oakwood Shores in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Thirty-six of the development’s 53 units are Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) units for households earning up to 80% of the area median household income, with the remaining 17 units being market-rate. (Credit: Nia Architects)