The City of Chicago has selected Team Pioneros, a one hundred percent Latino project team, led by Chicago-based practice JGMA, Park Row Development with All Construction Group, to redevelop the historic Pioneer Bank Building in Humboldt Park. The $53.9 million project will restore the vacant landmark structure and parking lot, establishing affordable housing, an entrepreneurial incubator space, a Latino cultural center, and office space. It will also host JGMA’s new office headquarters. 

The announcement of the redevelopment was made by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot during the celebration of the two-year anniversary of INVEST South/West, the mayor’s revitalization strategy for ten historically disadvantaged South and West Side communities in Chicago. 

JGMA envisions the new building as a continuation of the existing bank building while serving as a symbol for the future of the neighborhood. This is initially apparent through its multi-colored façade, which can be experienced from all sides. 

According to JGMA, the first goal of the project is to restore the bank into a center for Latino commerce. The 218,099-square-foot, nine-story structure will occupy the 0.75-acre parking lot north of the bank. This new addition will connect directly to the bank. The lower three floors will become a cultural hub, incubator, and workspace in collaboration with the Business Technology Education Center (BTEC) and the Latino architects organization Arquitectos. 

A public plaza and a new Chicago Public Library branch will be included on the first floor. There will also be two garage levels equipped with 114 parking spaces. The fourth floor will be used by Humboldt Park Health and feature a large community room and an expansive outdoor amenity space. The remaining floors will house the residential portion of the design, with 75 exclusively affordable apartment units. JGMA wants the housing portion to be placed on a pedestal in order to provide views for all residents. 

“The Team Pioneros INVEST South/West Landmark Pioneer Bank project in Humboldt Park is not only pioneering for Chicago, it is pioneering for an entire industry as one hundred percent of our teams consist of Latino and Latina-owned firms in development, construction, design, and engineering, all coming together to work on a transformational community project,” said JGMA President and the Project Design Principal, Juan Gabriel Moreno. “We at JGMA are truly inspired by the entire notion and premise of the INVEST South/West program and, as a personal commitment to the site, we will relocate our offices from River North to Humboldt Park to become the anchor tenant.”