“An affordable housing project in Rogers Park that’s been years in the making is moving forward after securing essential state tax credits. The development team behind The Werner at Howard & Paulina was awarded more than $1.6 million in low-income housing tax credits in June, a key piece of financing for the $56 million project.
“The project will redevelop the Werner Brothers Storage Building at 7613 N. Paulina St. The 1920s building, designed by George S. Kingsley, has an intricate terra cotta design and was on Preservation Chicago’s list of the city’s most endangered buildings in 2023.
“Housing For All and Visionary Ventures NFP are leading the project alongside JTE Real Estate. This was the development team’s second time applying for the funds, according to Crystal Rollins, director of business development and marketing strategy at JTE Real Estate. The award was essential for moving the project forward.
“‘We’ve been working on this project for several years,’ Rollins said. ‘That really did hinge on receiving the tax credit awards.’
“Their plans for the Werner include demolishing the one-story building next to the Werner Brothers structure to make way for an eight-story residential building. Rollins said the one-story property has largely been vacant.
“The development team is hopeful the retail space will help reinvigorate the corridor, which is off the Red Line’s Howard station.
“‘It is utilizing an area of the city that has been underutilized for several years,” she said. ‘I think it’s really going to change the feel of the corridor. It’s within a block of one of the busiest L stations in the city.’ (Miller, Chicago Sun-Times, 7/28/25)
Preservation Chicago applauds developer Shelly Tucciarelli of Housing For All for reconsidering the adaptive reuse of the Werner Brothers Storage Building. Additionally, we applaud 49th Ward Ald. Maria Hadden and community members who strongly advocated for a preservation sensitive alternative for this development.
Planned adaptive reuse of ornate 1921 Werner Bros building into residential is a beautiful blend of affordable housing and historic preservation. Preservation Chicago strongly supports this effort.
Affordability and preservation are strongly symbiotic and mutually beneficial. We consider Werner Brothers Storage Building to be an ideal candidate for affordable housing adaptive reuse. Historic preservation is highly compatible with affordable housing and we strongly encouraged the reuse and incorporation of this beautiful historic structure, particularly its terra cotta cladding, into the new construction.
Preservation Chicago believes that affordable housing and transit-oriented development are necessary components of healthy communities. Through collaboration between the local community, developers, and preservationists, we are confident that both goals of providing affordable housing and retaining historic architecture can be met, resulting in an even more successful and dynamic project and more vibrant communities.
Read the full story at Chicago Sun-Times
- Revamp of Werner Brothers building in Rogers Park to start next year; The 1920s building will be redeveloped into affordable housing. It was on Preservation Chicago’s list of the city’s most endangered buildings in 2023, Abby Miller, Chicago Sun-Times, 7/28/25
- Howard Street Affordable Housing Project Reduces Units, Adds Height In Revised Plans; The plans originally called for more than 100 affordable apartments on the corner lot at Howard and Paulina streets, Madison Savedra, Block Club Chicago, 10/24/24
- Workforce housing at 7603 N. Paulina misses out on funding; The developers will be reapplying and reorganizing the project phasing, Lukas Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 9/29/23
- Howard Street Affordable Housing Development Switches Up Plans After Missing Out On Tax Credits; The project would bring over 100 affordable apartments to the corner of Howard and Paulina streets, across from the Howard Red Line station, Joe Ward, Block Club Chicago, 10/10/23