LCHC Ogden Medical Corridor

In October 2017, CDF provided $6 million in New Markets Tax Credit allocation to Lawndale Christian Health Center (LCHC) for the Ogden Medical Corridor project. LCHC is a Federally Qualified Health Center operating six sites on Chicago’s West Side and was founded in 1984 by a group of community residents. The project includes rehabilitation and expansion of existing buildings in North Lawndale to create a 6,000-square-foot Urgent Care facility at 3910 W Ogden Avenue, a 17,000-square-foot Adult/Senior Day Care Services facility at 3745 W Ogden Avenue, and a 17,000-square-foot Urban Greenhouse at 3555 W Ogden Avenue. The Urgent Care facility also includes a pharmacy as well as substantial upgrades to the façade of the LCHC-owned building, improving the look and feel of the Ogden Avenue streetwall. The Urban Greenhouse, operated by Chicago Botanic Garden’s Windy City Harvest program, includes renovations to an existing 10,000-square-foot building and the addition of a 7,000-square-foot greenhouse.

At full operation, Urgent Care services will be provided to 5,800 unique patients annually helping them avoid emergency room visits get connected with primary care services. The Adult/Senior Day Care will provide services for up to 150 adults and seniors each day and includes transportation to the facility, medical care, socialization opportunities, nutrition, and recreational/therapeutic offerings. The Urban Greenhouse operated by Windy City Harvest will produce an estimated 30,000 pounds of leafy greens and 14,000 pounds of fish (tilapia) each year using aquaponics technology. These healthy foods are sold at affordable prices through an on-site market, and LCHC will provide approximately 3,600 boxes of produce annually as “prescriptions” for their patients. Additionally, the project components are expected to support a total of approximately 80 full-time equivalent jobs including 15 positions for graduates of the Windy City Harvest Corps, a program offering employment for previously incarcerated individuals and veterans.

Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives also provided the project with $6 million in NMTC allocation while NMTC equity and an additional $1.5 million in NMTC allocation were provided by JPMorgan Chase.