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CHICAGO-A group that includes a company chaired by former HUDSecretary Henry Cisneros plans to build 387 multifamily units on6.3 acres in a Pilsen community wary of gentrification. The plancommission endorsed the $125-million project by a limited liabilitycorporation that also includes giant private builder Kimball HillHomes.

Four condominium buildings containing 286 units, 14 townhousesand 87 units in three-, six- and 12-flat buildings will replacewarehouses occupied by a melon wholesaler, vacant warehouses and anarea used by a construction company for staging. Most units willrange from $270,000 to more than $600,000, 18th and Peoria LLCpresident William Purcell tells GlobeSt.com. However, his group isvoluntarily earmarking 82 units--21% of the total--for buyersqualifying under the city's affordable housing initiative. Thedecision was voluntary as the developers, 18th and Peoria LLC, arenot seeking city financial assistance or density bonuses. Thoseunits would range from $151,000 to $215,000, prices not consideredaffordable by grassroots activists opposing the project who pointto a median income in the area of $27,000.