Paul G. Stewart Apartments, Phases I and II

400 East 41st Street, Chicago, Illinois

Paul G. Stewart Senior Apartments, Phases I and II, residential planned development #99, consists of two residential towers, one 27 stories and another 19 story tower, joined by a shared two story base.   The buildings were completed by 1974 and were largely the result and effort of one man, Charles A. Beckett.  Mr. Beckett (1912-2000) was one of the first African American certified public accountants in Chicago.  Following his successful accounting practice, which included clients like the Johnson Publishing Company, he became a community activist and leader and helped found the Peoples Co-op Credit Union and the Peoples Consumer Co-operative.  The credit union provided the African American community in Bronzeville much needed access to credit, especially for home ownership.  The Peoples Consumer Co-operative developed communally owned housing, particularly senior housing, for people who could not afford to buy their own homes.  Paul G. Stewart Apartments, including all of its phases, represents the culmination of Mr. Beckett's tireless efforts to better his community.  In Phases I and II combined, there are 420 senior apartments. In 2007 the entire complex received a complete rehabilitation.  Each unit received new finishes and fixtures, including kitchen cabinets and counter tops, lighting and plumbing fixtures.  To the extent feasible the building was brought up to current accessibility standards.  In addition the exterior received a complete restoration, including 100% replacement windows for the residential units above the second floor.  The building's systems also were largely replaced with new, including a new vertical fan coil unit within each apartment providing hydronic heating and cooling, replacing the existing electric base board and window air conditioner units.  The first and second floors also were completely rehabbed and reprogrammed as well.  On the first floor new management offices were created, as well as several tenant build-outs, including a health and wellness clinic, a hair salon, tax preparation service, and small grocery.   On the second floor new programmed activity spaces were created, including a large cafeteria, fully equipped fitness center, billiards room, media/movie screening room, computer center, board room, library, laundry facilities, arts and crafts room and large activity center with dance floor.  The exterior site work consisted of the repair and resurfacing of the parking area, new site lighting and new landscape features such as a plaza with seating and general landscaping.


Client:  Paul G. Stewart Center and the Peoples Consumer Co-Operative

Team:  Linn-Mathes, Inc., General Contractor; Eskanazi, Farrell & Fodor, SE;  Creative Systems & Assoc., M/E/P; Gloger Engineers Limited, CE; Mark Stanley Landscaping, LA;

Government Participation:  City of Chicago Department of Planning; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Scope:  420 senior apartments and associated programmed spaces and offices