Seward Redesign

Real estate developmentredesign implements residential, commercial, and industrial real estate development projects that serve the needs of low- and moderate-income residents, women and people-of-color within the Seward and greater longfellow neighborhoods.in 2023, Redesign focused on the following development projects: 1) beginning construction on an 80,000 square foot historic commercial building on lake street in partnership with people-of-color led entities, ensuring the equitable recovery of the lake street commercial corridor, 2) continued planning for the redevelopment of a vacant site in partnership with people-of-color led entities, with an end use ownership model of people-of-color business and organizations that support people-of-color, and3) continued planning for the redevelopment of an approximately 32,000 square foot industrial building that was damaged during the civil unrest in the summer of 2020 to renovate and repurpose for a neighborhood-based business owned by people-of-color and transitioning the business from renting multiple locations to owning a single facility for the businesses. 4) advancing design and fundraising for the development of a 39-unit apartment project designed for low-income families at Seward commons in partnership with noor companies. Many of these units will be three- and four-bedroom units, suitable for larger families. 5) acquired a 1,700 square foot former restaurant to renovate and lease as a commercial kitchen and/or restaurant.in addition to Redesign's own development projects, Redesign provided consulting services to multiple people-of-color owned businesses to provide training in real estate development to new and emerging developers and small business owners to acquire and develop new projects.

Business development and growthredesign seeks out and attracts new businesses to the Seward and greater longfellow neighborhoods by providing technical assistance, access to low cost loan capital and assistance with real estate projects. In 2023, Redesign provided technical assistance to more than 50 small business clients and loans to 2 businesses. Our focus is on reaching businesses that have not always enjoyed equal access to support including immigrant, people-of-color and woman-owned enterprises.redesign provides commercial brokerage services to local businesses to assist them in finding space to lease or properties to purchase in the community, including developing plans for the improvement of spaces and the financing for those improvements. Redesign also manages three loan pools that make below-market loans to small businesses that create jobs within the community and promote the success of local commercial corridors. Most of these borrowers would not otherwise have access to needed and equitable capital.

Commercial property operations and management for community valueredesign operates multi-tenant commercial properties in the greater longfellow and Seward neighborhoods including the franklin east, 3300 east lake, 2610 east 32nd, five square, verna, and focus arts buildings. All of these properties are leased to multiple small business and community organization tenants, the great majority of which are women, people-of-color and/or immigrant owned. These properties are managed for long-term sustainability to ensure affordable and accessible commercial space.redesign leases and directly manages the commercial properties that it owns. Additionally, Redesign provides property and asset management services for other properties within the Seward neighborhood to ensure long-term affordability and high-quality physical maintenance. These properties include Seward towers east and west; and two residential townhouse properties that are partly- and wholly-owned by Redesign respectively.

Community planning and infrastructure advocacyredesign engages existing residents, businesses and property owners in proactive planning for future land use and development and to advocate on behalf of community-based development that serves the needs of all residents, including communities-of-color, immigrant communities and those of low and moderate income. Redesign also works with residents, businesses and local institutions to plan and advocate for infrastructure improvements, including enhancements for pedestrians and bicyclists in particular, and those changes that will address climate change including increased use of solar energy. Redesign has provided technical assistance to several businesses to install solar arrays on their roof. Redesign has also added solar to the roofs at franklin east and the cooperage.

Community planning and infrastructure advocacyredesign engages existing residents, businesses and property owners in proactive planning for future land use and development and to advocate on behalf of community-based development that serves the needs of all residents, including communities-of-color, immigrant communities and those of low and moderate income. Redesign also works with residents, businesses and local institutions to plan and advocate for infrastructure improvements, including enhancements for pedestrians and bicyclists in particular, and those changes that will address climate change including increased use of solar energy. Redesign has provided technical assistance to several businesses to install solar arrays on their roof. Redesign has also added solar to the roofs at franklin east and the cooperage.