Taft is pleased to have acted as legal counsel to Over the Rainbow Association in connection with obtaining all necessary land use approvals and entitlements needed to construct a six-story mixed-use building in Chicago’s Lakeview community. 

The project is a partnership between Over the Rainbow Association, an Illinois nonprofit developer that specializes in providing housing for individuals with income limitations and physical disabilities, and Lakeview Lutheran Church, a community institution that has operated at the site for more than 60 years. The six-story building will contain 37 affordable rental apartment units designed for individuals with physical disabilities and reserved for those earning 30% of the area median income and will include a new ground-floor religious assembly facility for the Lakeview Lutheran Church. The development has received funding commitments from the Illinois Housing Development Authority, Chicago Housing Authority, and Chicago Department of Housing.

The highly unique, multi-stage, multi-year land use entitlement execution required the development team to undertake extensive community engagement to secure support from numerous community stakeholders, along with four separate zoning approval processes and public hearings. The land use approvals will enable a $16 million investment and the creation of much-needed accessible, barrier-free, affordable housing. 

The Taft team representing Over the Rainbow Association included Liz Butler and Braeden Lord.