A developer who has completed more than a dozen housing projects in Humboldt Park is proposing another development in the West Side neighborhood.Hispanic Housing Development Corp. is seeking a zoning change to build 44 affordable apartments at 3251 W. Division St., west of the neighborhood’s names ake park. The project would replace vacant land that once had a liquor store and other storefronts.The developer filed a zoning application in February, and it has been working with Chicago-based WJW Architects for about nine months, Hispanic Housing Development Corp. CEO Tony Hernandez said. He said the company has owned the site for more than five years.If approved, Hernandez estimates the project could break ground in the spring or summer of 2027 and open in late 2028.He said the company was considering single-family homes, among other developments, at the site but axed that plan last year for affordable housing — something that’d have less of an impact on neighbors and their property taxes.Its plans call for a $32 million, six-story building. Units will range from one- to three-bedrooms, helping meet the demand for larger, family-sized units in Humboldt Park.“The demand that we've been hearing most prominently in Humboldt Park is for family-sized units,” he said. “Forty-four units … will barely put a dent in the demand for these types of units.”The bulk of the apartments, or 20 units, will be for those making 30% of the area median income. In Chicago, that’s an annual income of up to $25,200 for an individual, and $35,970 for a family of four. Those units will ideally be available for Chicago Housing Authority voucher holders, Hernandez said. The remaining 24 units will be for those making 50% and 60% of the area median income.The building will also have a community room, bike storage, courtyard and 14 parking spaces.Hernandez hopes transforming the vacant lot and adding ground floor retail will help improve the vibrancy along Division Street. He said a lack of density contributes to the street life around its Division Street project to be a bit sleepier than the company’s recently-completed apartment project at 1237 N. California Ave., east of Humboldt Park. “More density along that stretch will ultimately encourage more retail and with a little bit more retail, a little bit more people,” he said. Hernandez said the development process has been very community driven. Based on feedback, they lowered the unit count and added retail space. They also added more brick on the facade and put the tallest portion of the building toward the back, so the densest part of the project would be obscured from the street.He sees the project as an extension of 1237 N. California and its other projects in the neighborhood. The Pedro Albizu Campos Apartments, 1203 N. California Ave., opened in May 2024 with 64 affordable apartments. And the developer broke ground in January on the redevelopment of Humboldt Park's historic Pioneer Arcade, which will be converted into 61 affordable senior housing units.The company's projects are critical to combating gentrification because there’s a dearth of affordable apartments in Humboldt Park, Hernandez said.“The more we can build that are at least a portion of the building is [income] restricted is about helping those families stay in this neighborhood,” he said. ...read more read less