After 50 years in the business, Chicago developer Peter Holsten is selling his portfolio of Chicago buildings — totaling 2,638 units — as he and his wife prepare to retire.Holsten founded Holsten Real Estate Development Corp. in 1975. The firm is listing 16 properties across Chicago, with anothe r in Riverdale. Of the portfolio's 2,638 units, 758 are Chicago Housing Authority mixed-income units, according to Walker Dunlop, who’s handling the sale. The developer is also selling the firm and its management arm that oversees Holsten Real Estate's properties, as part of the sale.“After nearly five decades of leadership, Peter and Jackie are beginning a well-earned transition into retirement. So the onus and opportunity now is on us to identify the next proper steward of the platform they've built intentionally; that they believe can certainly endure beyond their personal involvement,” Eric Taylor, managing director at Walker Dunlop's Affordable Housing Platform, said.Holsten Real Estate didn’t respond to a request for comment.One notable property in the portfolio is the circular Hilliard Towers Apartments in the Near South Side. Designed by architect Bertrand Goldberg, the Hilliard Towers mirror Goldberg’s Marina City Towers in the Loop. The Hilliard Towers were originally public housing and have since been rehabbed, though there are some CHA units.Another is the Lawson House, a 409-unit Art Deco-styled building that used to be the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago headquarters. Holsten Real Estate purchased the building from the YMCA for $1 in 2014, with the agreement that it would continue to provide low-income housing, the Sun-Times previously reported. The developer secured a city loan to rehab the property in 2021.“It’s beautiful real estate, without a doubt,” Taylor said.The portfolio has been on the market for about three weeks. Taylor declined to comment on its valuation, pricing expectations or buyer interest in the portfolio thus far.Walker Dunlop’s Affordable Housing Platform operates nationwide. Because of its existing relationships, Taylor said the firm has identified several parties who could purchase the buildings and the real estate firm, but he declined to share further details.“Our primary focus is offering the opportunity to acquire a mission-driven affordable housing platform built over five decades,” Taylor said.Holsten Real Estate has developed more than $500 million in mixed-income, mixed-use housing and commercial development throughout Chicago, according to the firm’s website. It operates as a developer and property manager, in addition to acquiring and rehabbing existing buildings.Holsten Human Capital Development, an associated nonprofit, will remain as a separate entity, according to Taylor. The nonprofit’s mission is to strengthen at-risk populations by expanding their access to resources that promote self-sufficiency, wellness and stability — part of that is through developing low-income and affordable housing and fostering economic development, according to Holsten Real Estate's website.Holsten Real Estate isn't the only company to list a portfolio that includes CHA units. Chicago-based national affordable housing provider Brinshore Development listed 20 properties in its Chicago portfolio for sale in November.Richard Sciortino, founding partner of Brinshore, said at the time the developer planned to keep a presence in Chicago — and continue collaborating with the CHA. He said it was too early to tell what interest in the portfolio looked like, or what price the properties could sell for.Holsten Real Estate properties listed for sale include:Parkside 5, 520 W. Hobbie St.Larrabee Place (A), 545 W. Division St.Larrabee Place (B), 545 W. Division St.Terrace 459, 459 W. Division St.551 Elm, 551 W. Elm St.544 Oak, 544 W. Oak St.Hilliard Towers I, 2111 S. Clark St.Hilliard Towers II, 30 W. Cermak St.Wilson Yard Senior Apartments, 1032 W. Montrose Ave.Wilson Yard Apartments, 1026 W. Montrose Ave.North Town Village I, 1311 N. Halsted St.North Town Village II, 1311 N. Halsted St.Lawson House, 803 N. Dearborn St.Lawndale Apartments, 10 N. Hamlin Blvd.The Strand, 6321 S. Cottage Grove Ave.The Midwest Apartments, 6 N. Hamlin Ave.Whistler Crossing, 13750 S. Lowe Ave., Riverdale Related Brinshore Development puts 20 Chicago properties up for sale, including CHA units CHA, developers mark end of Henry Horner Homes redevelopment on Near West Side ...read more read less