Zapata Groundbreaking September 13, 2011

It's been a long time comin'... the Zapata Apartments groundbreaking!  The celebration on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 was truly a community celebration with music, refreshments and activities for kids.  The atmosphere was one of a great block party, led off by a march of parents and children from Funston to the groundbreaking at St. Louis and Armitage and included clowns, face painting and a mariachi band.

The groundbreaking marks the transition in a six year struggle to realize LSNA’s dream of bringing more affordable housing to Logan Square.  LSNA member and non-profit developer, Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation, answered the call to build affordable, family-sized apartments to help stem the flow of families who, after investing years in creating strong schools for their community, were being forced to move because of higher rents and condo-conversions.  LSNA would like to thank Bickerdike for sticking with this project and not giving up, even when times were tough and the project stalled.  Because of Bickerdike and LSNA’s persistence, the Zapata Apartments will include 61 affordable apartments spread over three buildings along Armitage Ave. and one on Cortland.

After congratulatory speeches from Aldermen Maldonado and Colon, State Senator Iris Martinez, and major investors in the project, dancers from the McAuliffe Community School Dance Troupe treated the hundreds of people at the event to a high-energy baile norteño performance.  LSNA leaders Shirley Reyes and Lissette Castañeda ended the program by thanking the hundreds of people for their ongoing work in this campaign and with a rousing call to continue to fight for affordable housing in the community.  Concluded Castañeda, “we achieved homes for 61 families today… and we’re going to fight for another 61 tomorrow, and 61 after that and 61 after that.”

For more information/Para mas informacion: zapataapartments.org