Construction begins for affordable housing Casa Yucatán in Pilsen

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A new affordable housing development is coming to Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood.

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On Friday, ground was broken for Casa Yucatán, a 98-unit building.

It will be constructed on what was previously an empty lot at 2136 S. Ashland Avenue, across the street from Benito Juarez High School.

The eight-story building will house one, two, and three bedroom apartments with rent estimates from $551 to $1768 a month

Mayor Brandon Johnson called it a "transformational" moment for the Pilsen community.

"When we build affordable housing, we create spaces where families can grow," Johnson said. "Young people can seize opportunities, and communities thrive."

The city chipped in around $16 million from its $1.2 billion Build Better Together housing development fund.

The idea is to create a foundation for sustainable and affordable housing to not only build generational wealth, but also create neighborhood and family stability.

Casa Yucatán is being developed by the Resurrection Project.

The community organization has already built 600-housing units in gentrifying neighborhoods to try to combat skyrocketing rents.

"We fight with actions, and this shows away for our community to resist to be resilient to act with care and love for one another," 25th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez said.

Single mother and grandparent Dannielle Jenkins says she can see her future home.