“The Chicago Community Development Commission has approved TIF funds for the residential redevelopment of the former Pioneer Arcade building in Humboldt Park. Located at 1539 North Pulaski Road, the landmarked two-story structure sits just south of the former Pioneer Bank, which has had its own redevelopment in the works since 2021.
“The Pioneer Arcade was originally built in 1925 for $350,000 by a pair of Greek immigrant brothers, funded via a loan from the aforementioned bank. They envisioned a recreation hall with shops, billiards, and a bowling alley featuring a spectator mezzanine. To realize this vision, they hired the now-iconic architect Jens Jensen, who had done work with other Greek families nearby.
“The streetfront was designed in a Spanish-Baroque style and clad in cream-colored terra cotta. It featured four storefronts and became a staple of the growing neighborhood, serving the community for over 80 years. After decades of disinvestment, the structure now sits vacant, with most of its original interior unrecognizable or demolished, and a vacant lot to the south
“Now, local developer The Hispanic Housing Development Corporation (HHDC) is moving forward with a conversion to affordable elderly housing, after purchasing the building in the mid-2000s. Local firm UrbanWorks is behind the design. The plans call for the demolition of most of the rear of the arcade building, except for the front lobby and facade.
“This preserved portion will be incorporated into a new six-story building that will stretch along Pulaski and into the vacant lot to the south. The facade will be restored, and the lobby will have its grand staircase rebuilt. Within this space, the former arcade storefronts will be converted into a fitness room and office space for on-site supportive services. The rest of the ground floor will include residential units.”(Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 7/9/25)
Bravo to Paul Roldan, president and CEO of the Hispanic Housing Development Corp., for embracing the historic building and incorporating it into his larger new construction affordable housing development. We also applaud the Chicago Department of Planning and Development for supporting the Chicago Landmark designation.
We’re thrilled that the restoration and adaptive reuse of the Pioneer Arcade is finally moving forward. We’ve been in communication with stakeholders for over 10 years during an extended period of vacancy. The Pioneer Arcade was a Chicago 7 Most Endangered in 2015 and we made many efforts over the years to advocate for the protection and restoration of the building.
A significant positive milestone was on December 8, 2022 when the Pioneer Arcade received Final Chicago Landmark Designation approval. This protection was long-overdue and is essential to protect its beautiful ornate facade as part of an adaptive reuse project.
Read the full story at Chicago YIMBY
- Funding Approved For Pioneer Arcade Redevelopment In Humboldt Park, Ian Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 7/9/25
- Humboldt Park’s historic Pioneer Arcade closer to being redeveloped into affordable senior housing; The remodel of the Spanish Baroque Revival-style building into a 61-unit affordable housing complex secured its final funding piece — $13.2 million in tax increment financing, Janani Jana, Chicago Sun-Times, 7/14/25
- Pioneer Arcade affordable housing project in jeopardy as city support wavers, Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 3/8/23
- Final landmark recommendation approved for Pioneer Arcade, The building will be adaptively reused into senior housing, Lukas Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 12/15/22
- Preliminary landmark approved for Pioneer Arcade; The building will be part of a new senior housing development, Lukas Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 11/8/22
- Pioneer Arcade & New Apollo, a Preservation Chicago 2015 Chicago 7 Most Endangered
- Pioneer Arcade Chicago Landmark Designation Report, November 2022
- Awaiting a New Tenant: Pioneer Arcade at North and Pulaski, John Morris, Chicago Patterns, 8/14/14
- A Palace of Pleasure for 1920s Chicago: The Pioneer Arcade (1925), John Cramer, HPRES-IST, 3/25/12