Tenants at the Chaney Braggs Apartments in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood have formally organized a tenant union to combat potential displacement, which they attribute to investment activity linked to the ongoing construction of the Obama Presidential Center. The apartment building, situated near 65th Street and Stony Island Avenue, is located blocks from the presidential center campus currently being built in Jackson Park on Chicago’s South Side.
Approximately 20 households at the Chaney Braggs Apartments are members of the newly formed tenant union. Residents indicate that the union first coalesced roughly two years prior, following the previous landlord's effective abandonment of the property. During this period, tenants reportedly assumed responsibility for managing maintenance and basic services themselves.
Cook County records reveal that the building was formerly owned by Woodlawn East Community and Neighbors, a nonprofit organization established by the late housing activist Mattie Butler. The property entered foreclosure in October 2023, less than a year after Butler’s passing.
A California-based investor is now reportedly seeking to acquire the building. According to residents, the prospective buyer has indicated that the property could either undergo extensive renovation or be demolished. The identity of this potential buyer had not been publicly disclosed as of the time of reporting. The investor has offered tenants $2,000 per household to vacate their residences. Residents argue that this offer is insufficient for families attempting to relocate within a neighborhood experiencing accelerating development pressure and rising housing costs.
Many tenants currently pay monthly rents ranging between $700 and $800, as reported by FOX 32 Chicago. A significant number of these residents have lived in the building for 30 to 40 years, expressing considerable concern that they will be unable to secure comparable affordable housing elsewhere in the Woodlawn area if they are displaced.
Kyana Butler, a 31-year-old resident, addressed reporters at a news conference held outside the building. She articulated the community's anxieties, stating, “Now that the Obama Center is coming, all of these new buyers want to come in, and they want to take over the land that has already been here and kick out the people that have been here.” Butler emphasized her desire to remain in her home, adding, “I want to stay right where I am at. I don’t want to be forced out. I don’t want to be told I have to leave.”
Infiniti Collins, associated with the Southside Together organization, echoed these concerns, noting, “Since the Obama center has been announced we have been talking about there is danger that the center will displace community members.” Residents have reportedly reached out to both city and state officials for intervention but had not received a response as of the reporting time. No sale of the property had been finalized.
The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) currently holds the mortgage for the Chaney Braggs property. Block Club Chicago reported that Andrew Field, an assistant director with the authority, issued a statement affirming that the IHDA “has been committed to working collaboratively with ownership and community preservation partners to explore all viable solutions that ensure the long-term affordability and sustainability of Chaney Braggs.”
The building is situated within the Jackson Park Housing Pilot area, which was established by an ordinance passed last year with support from Southside Together. This ordinance introduced a “Tenant Opportunity to Purchase” (TOP) program for the pilot area, which grants the Chaney Braggs tenant union the right to purchase the property before it becomes available on the open market.
Last September, a Cook County judge appointed a receiver over the building to address deteriorating conditions. The Chicago Department of Buildings confirmed that the property is presently on the city’s scofflaw list, with ongoing inspections underway to monitor its status.
The Obama Presidential Center itself has garnered attention beyond its local economic impact. Online, the building, set to open in Chicago, has been labeled a 'monstrosity' and compared to the 'Death Star' by some critics. These sentiments highlight broader discussions surrounding the scale and aesthetic of the project.
