Porter, a new residential development at 1105 Pleasant St. in Oak Park, will have its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 6.
The complex is a seven-story tower with 158 apartments, including studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units and maisonette homes.
So far, about 50 units are leased at Porter, with about 28 occupied. No one type of unit has been more popular than others, yet, said Tim Anderson, chief executive officer and founder of Focus, the developer and contractor for Porter.
Of the five maisonette homes located at Porter, three have been leased, Anderson said. These two-story units have their own outdoor entrance, structured parking and access to amenities, he said.
“They’re luxurious but they’re really nice,” Anderson said. “Some of them have private patios.”
The rent prices for studios start at $1,577 per month, according to Focus. One-bedrooms start at $2,225 per month, two-bedrooms at $2,973, three-bedrooms at $5,735 and maisonette homes at $6,250, according to Focus.
But for some residents making only 60% or less of the area median income, that might be hard to afford.
Porter’s opening comes as affordable housing has been a common concern in the Oak Park community for years, prompting a housing study to help address identify issues and suggest solutions. In 2019, Oak Park’s Board of Trustees approved an affordable housing ordinance that requires developers to make 10% of their units affordable to people making 60% of the area median income.
In lieu of this, developers can contribute $100,000 per affordable unit not included. Porter, according to Focus, paid $1.59 million to Oak Park’s affordable housing fund.
The two-year construction process was completed this year and residents were invited to apply in April. The grand opening was set for June to allow residents to participate and allows neighbors a chance to interact with them, Anderson said.
“It creates more of a sense of social connection,” he said. “It sets it up much better, I think, for long-term success.”
Located in the Oak Park historic district, the complex also has ground floor retail space available for businesses. Anderson said they hope to fill that retail space with a food or beverage-oriented business.
Focus bought the property, which used to house a funeral home, after other successful developments in Oak Park including the Euclid Commons.
Outside Porter is a sculpture made from recycled plastic by artist Cody Norman. It’s intended to reflect the arch of the tree line in the streets in Oak Park, Anderson said.
Sustainability is a priority for Porter, Anderson said. Porter achieved the National Green Building Standard silver certification, he said. This certification encompasses standards in energy, water, and resource efficiency, lot development, operation and maintenance and indoor air quality, according to NGBS. Porter’s development includes a green rood with water retention, drip irrigation and heat pumps with heat recovery ventilation, Anderson said.
“Oak Park, generally, really wants to be on the leading edge of sustainability,” he said.