CorridorLive! Façade Restoration Grant

Great things are happening in South Shore to advance economic development and to improve the quality of life for residents in the community. Since 2023, Community Desk Chicago has been working with the South Shore Community Development Corporation to pilot our CorridorLive! framework. CorridorLive! is a comprehensive strategy to revitalize neighborhood commercial corridors through community input, a development and activation strategy, coordinated capital, and a strong implementation team.

Since the launch and under the leadership of the CDC, the 71st Street Corridor Plan was developed. The City of Chicago also awarded $3M to the corridor as part of the Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation Program. To date, there are 28 projects in various stages of development along the corridor, with more than $18.5M in funding committed.

The 71st Street corridor between Stony Island and Yates contains several architecturally attractive buildings that contribute to the character of the South Shore community and preserve the traditional look and feel of Chicago’s urban neighborhood business districts. The CorridorLive! Façade Restoration Program is designed to restore the historical character of the corridor and augment the existing work of the CDC and Alderman Yancy including reactivating vacant and blight buildings.

The CorridorLive! Façade Restoration Program is a grant program administered by Community Desk Chicago made possible through funding received by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.

Funding is by invitation only and subject to the property meeting the requirements of the program. If approved to apply, grant candidates must apply through the Desk’s Capital Connect grant portal.

Funding will be awarded in two rounds: round one in Q4 2026 and round two in Q2 2027.

If awarded, grantees must be willing to work with an approved façade restoration consultant and/or architect and façade restoration contractor. The funds will cover up to 90% of the façade restoration costs, capped at $250,000. Funding is subject to availability and demand. The Desk reserves the right to adjust the award amount based on the property conditions, scope and available funding.  

To be eligible for the façade program, applicants and their real estate projects must meet the following criteria:

• Property located between Stony Island and Yates on 71st Street in Chicago, IL
• Property age is pre-1940s with architecturally attractive/significant elements
• Property owner is an active member of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce
• Property has a pending/active construction project or ownership is open to exploring façade and storefront improvements
• Project must start façade restoration design before December 2026 and construction no later than March 2027, winter conditions permitting
• Property must not operate any of the following uses. The Desk reserves the right to reject other proposed/active uses.
  • Liquor stores
  • Pawn shops
  • Strip clubs
  • Adult stores
  • Payday loan stores/currency exchanges
  • Place of worship
  • Dollar stores
  • Tobacco/vape stores

The following are eligible costs for the façade restoration grants: 

Hard Costs 

• Select demolition related to restoration
• Front exterior façade including masonry, stone/terra cotta, cornices
• Tuckpointing and related masonry repairs
• Roof, parapet wall, and related repairs if impacting the façade
• Storefront systems including lintels
• Other expenses as identified by the restoration architect/consultant

Soft Costs 

• Façade restoration architect or consultant
• General contractor overhead, fee, general requirements, insurance
• Project manager/owner’s representative
• Permit fees
• Other expenses as identified by restoration architect/consultant

The program is designed to fully restore the historic design of buildings on 71st Street. Terms and conditions of participation include, but are not limited to:

• Minimum contribution of 10% of the costs to restore the façade. Existing construction projects at the property count toward the 10% contribution (e.g., renovation of storefront units).
• Willingness to expand the scope of the restoration project, if required, to fully restore the façade and create a polished curb appeal (e.g., new signage, new security mechanisms).
• Recorded lien against the property for the grant amount for a 5-year hold period. A pro-rated grant claw back may be enforced should the property be sold prior to the 5-year hold period.
• Right of first refusal for community acquisition of property should it be sold.
• Use of preferred restoration architects and contractors.
• Use of a construction escrow to administer grant funds.
• Compliance with applicable requirements for site inspections, licensing, certifications, and permitting per the City of Chicago.
• Compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, Executive Orders, and codes.

Applications are by invitation only.

To inquire if your project meets the program qualifications, please email inquiries to funding@communitydeskchicago.org.

Awards will be made at the discretion of the Desk and based on recommendations from the South Shore CDC, Alderman Yancy, and the South Shore CorridorLive! Advisory Council.

Applications will be considered based on the following:

• Condition of the property
• Potential corridor impact post-restoration
• Restoration costs
• Status of existing/proposed construction plans for the property
• Current/post-restoration uses

There will be two rounds of funding, subject to funding availability.

First round applications

• Eligibility Inquiries – September 15 – 28, 2026
• Application Open – September 15, 2026
• Application Window Closes – October 9, 2026 at 5pm CT
• Awardees Notified – October 23, 2026
• Restoration Design Started – no later than November 2026