Congratulations to Riverdale’s Pacesetter Gardens/Whistler Crossing and the development team for being selected to win the Richard H. Driehaus Preservation Award for Rehabilitation.
The Metropolitan Planning Council has been a proud supporter of this historic redevelopment effort. Originally built in the 1960’s as worker housing, the Pacesetter community was comprised of individually-owned townhomes, which over time, fell into severe disrepair. The Village staff engaged the Urban Land Institute-Chicago and MPC to develop recommendations for the Village on how to improve the site. Following a two-day panel and quarterly follow-up sessions, the panel of volunteer development, finance, and planning experts advised the Village not to tear the property down as originally proposed, but rather rehabilitate the property into mixed-income, mixed-use housing that provides both rental and for-sale housing options and new retail and community services.
The experienced development team of Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation and Turnstone Development was selected. Over the last five years, the team has taken on the tremendous challenge of acquiring properties from a myriad of owners, securing unprecedented financial commitments, and weathering a severe economic downturn. The first phase of the new Whistler Crossing community is now complete, offering quality housing options for Riverdale residents. This award could not be more well-deserved!
