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Woodlawn Central is built for this community and we are not here to make promises we cannot keep. We want to be upfront, honest, and direct about what this project is, what it is not, and what it means for you.
If you do not find your answer here, reach out to us directly because we are not going anywhere.
Explore by Category
Why Trust Woodlawn Central?
Jobs & Employment Opportunities
The Apostolic Church of God & Woodlawn Central
Housing & Affordability in Woodlawn
Woodlawn & the Obama Presidential Center
Get Involved with Woodlawn Central
The Development: What's Coming to Woodlawn?
Impact on Local Businesses in Woodlawn
Housing & Affordability in Woodlawn
I live here. Will I still be able to afford to?
Q: Will this development affect rent prices in the neighborhood?
A: We hear this question a lot and we want to be honest with you. We cannot control what landlords across the neighborhood charge, but what we can control is what we build. Woodlawn Central will include affordable units where rent is capped based on your income, not the market. We are legally required to make at least 20% of our units affordable and we are pushing hard to reach 30%. This development is not here to price you out. It is here to give you more options.
Q: How does Woodlawn Central plan to protect long-term residents from displacement?
A: Protecting you from displacement is not just a talking point for us, it is the whole reason this project exists. We are working directly with the Cook County Assessor's office to find ways to shield current homeowners from sudden tax increases. One proposal we are actively pushing for is to cap property tax increases for current homeowners at the same rate as Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, roughly 4 to 5%, for as long as you own your home. And because the Apostolic Church of God owns all the land and will never sell it, no outside developer can ever come in and take over this neighborhood.
Q: Who is the housing being built for, and how does it serve people already living here?
A: This housing is built for the people already here. Phase one includes one, two, and three-bedroom units for singles, families, and everyone in between. Future phases will include a dedicated senior home with affordable housing attached, as well as workforce and multigenerational housing options. There is room here for all of us.
Q: What income levels qualify for the affordable units?
A: Affordable units are available to households earning at or below 60% of the Area Median Income, which is known as AMI. In simple terms, this means your rent is capped at a level that is tied to what you actually earn, not what the market demands. When we are ready to open applications, full details will be shared publicly.
Q: Will current Woodlawn residents get priority access to the new units?
A: Yes, absolutely. Woodlawn residents will be first in line. When the time is right we will open a waiting list and you will have the first opportunity to sign up. We will make sure you know about it well in advance through the website, the alderman's office, and community channels.
Q: What protections are in place to make sure this development benefits the existing community?
A: Several protections are built into this project. Affordable housing at a minimum of 20% is legally locked in and cannot be taken away. Ten percent of profits will go directly back into the community through a dedicated fund for programs and initiatives that benefit residents. The land stays permanently in the hands of the Apostolic Church of God, and the church has been your neighbor in Woodlawn for 93 years, and that commitment to this community runs deeper than any development project ever could.
Why Trust Woodlawn Central?
I've heard promises before. Why should I believe this one?
Q: How is Woodlawn Central different from developments that claimed to be for the community but weren't?
A: That is a fair question and you deserve a real answer. Most developers come in, build, profit, and leave without looking back. The Apostolic Church of God has been investing in Woodlawn long before this project began. Bishop Brazier's father had the railroad removed from 63rd Street at no cost to the city because it was hurting the neighborhood, and the church built the row houses you see on 63rd Street today. This is a 93-year relationship with this community, not a sales pitch. And here is something we challenge you to find elsewhere: we are giving 10% of our profits back to the community through a real financial commitment backed by a dedicated fund, not a vague promise.
Q: Who is leading this project and what is their connection to Woodlawn?
A: Woodlawn Central is led by Byron Brazier, whose family has been the heart of this community for generations. His grandfather, the late Bishop Arthur M. Brazier, was a legendary community activist who fought for Woodlawn for decades. His father, Pastor Byron Brazier, continued that legacy and has led the Apostolic Church of God for over 20 years. Byron carries that same commitment forward, making sure that what gets built here truly belongs to the people who live here.
On the development side, Keith Jenkins serves as Executive Director of ACOG Ventures, the arm that executes and manages the project. Keith has been a member of the Apostolic Church of God for over 30 years, his son was baptized at the church and graduated from a Woodlawn high school just last year, and he serves on the church board, and together they bring both the vision and the execution needed to make Woodlawn Central a reality.
Q: How does the community benefit financially from this development?
A: In multiple ways. Ten percent of profits go directly back into the community through a dedicated fund for local programs and initiatives. The development is estimated to create 100 temporary construction jobs and 700 permanent jobs, with 595 employees coming directly from the South Side, and Woodlawn residents get first access to those jobs. The hotel, restaurants, café, market, and commercial spaces will generate economic activity that circulates right here in the neighborhood, so this is not wealth leaving Woodlawn but wealth being built and kept here.
Q: What guarantees are in place to make sure affordable housing gets built?
A: The 20% affordable housing requirement is not a promise we are making to you, it is the law. It was signed off on as part of our development agreement with the city and it cannot be undone. Anything above 20% is what we are actively working toward, with a goal of reaching 30%, because we believe this community deserves more than the minimum.
Q: What does the timeline look like and what has already been accomplished?
A: We have been working on this since 2021 and a lot has happened since then. We have secured a $30 million state grant, received aldermanic support, held multiple community engagement meetings with over 120 residents in attendance, and applied for a zoning change. Groundbreaking is targeted for Q4 of 2026, with phase one estimated to take approximately 18 months to complete, and every step of that journey will be documented and shared publicly.
Q: How has the community been involved in shaping this project from the beginning?
A: We have been showing up since 2021 and we have held design and development meetings, formal community engagement sessions sponsored by the alderman's office, and open Q&A events where residents could ask us anything. Over 120 people attended our most recent community meetings and their input has shaped this project every step of the way. Every single meeting from 2021 to 2026 has been recorded and will be archived publicly on this website and on our YouTube channel so you can watch the full journey for yourself.
The Development: What's Coming to Woodlawn?
What's Being Built, When, and Everything You Need to Know.
Q: What is included in phase one and what can the community expect to see first?
A: Phase one will include 104 residential units, 160 hotel rooms, and a two-story parking garage with 300 spaces. At street level you will find a restaurant, a small grocery store, and several commercial spaces for local entrepreneurs and businesses. Phase 1B will follow with an additional 255 residential units, and this is only the beginning of a much larger vision for Woodlawn.
Q: When does construction start and how long will phase one take?
A: Groundbreaking is targeted for Q4 of 2026, with phase one construction estimated to take approximately 18 months to complete.
Q: What does the full vision look like across all phases?
A: Woodlawn Central spans 8.5 acres across nine church-owned lots and over the next 10 years it will grow into a full community district with 800+ residential units, a hotel, 215,000 sq ft of commercial space, restaurants, a café, a market, a theater, arts and culture venues, a pharmacy, a doctor's office, green space, a business incubator, and a senior home. Back in 1917 this very block had a 20-story hotel and a thriving commercial district, and we are bringing that back while making sure it belongs to the community this time around.
Q: How will construction impact day-to-day life in the neighborhood?
A: As little as possible and we mean that sincerely. Phase one is being built on an existing ground parking lot that will be fenced off during construction, and there are no residential buildings right next to the construction site, which sits parallel to the Metra tracks across from the church. Construction hours will be between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays only, and we are doing everything we can to make sure your daily life is not disrupted.
Q: What is the plan for the parking lots while construction is underway?
A: There is no need to worry about parking. The church owns nine parking lots across the area and not all of them are currently in use, which means there is more than enough space to accommodate residents and church members throughout the entire construction period. We currently have so much surplus parking that we rent spaces to the University of Chicago, so availability will not be an issue.
Impact on Local Businesses in Woodlawn
I own a small business nearby. How does this affect me?
Q: How will Woodlawn Central bring more customers and foot traffic to existing local businesses?
A: The Obama Presidential Center is now open right down the street and it is already drawing visitors to this neighborhood, and Woodlawn Central is designed to keep that energy here by turning visitors into customers for the entire area. As the development grows and the neighborhood becomes more of a destination, every business in Woodlawn stands to benefit from the increased attention and activity.
Q: How can I get a space inside Woodlawn Central and what does that process look like?
A: When the time is right we will open a waiting list and announce it publicly, and interested businesses will be able to sign up, submit an application, and go through a selection process. Stay connected at woodlawncentral.com/news so you do not miss the announcement when it comes.
Q: Will Black-owned and local businesses get priority for commercial spaces?
A: Absolutely. The people and businesses already rooted in this neighborhood come first, and the selection process will also make sure that incoming businesses are the right fit for the community and the values behind this project. We are a church-led development and that shapes who and what belongs here.
Q: Is there room for small operators and independent businesses, not just large brands?
A: Yes, and this development was specifically designed with small operators in mind. We have pop-up spaces, a business incubator, co-working spaces, and maker spaces built right into the plan, because you do not need to be a big brand to have a home here.
Q: What kind of support will be available beyond just renting a space?
A: While running business programs is not our area of expertise, we will actively connect entrepreneurs to local organizations and city resources that can help, so you will not be left to figure it out on your own.
Jobs & Employment Opportunities
Will Woodlawn Central Create Real Jobs for Local Residents?
Q: How many jobs will Woodlawn Central create for local residents?
A: We estimate 800 jobs across the full development, including both construction jobs and permanent employment, and that number will grow with each phase as the project expands.
Q: Will Woodlawn residents get first access to those jobs?
A: Woodlawn residents will always be first in line, and jobs will be advertised at the Alderwoman's (Ward 20) office and through local community channels to make sure you hear about them before anyone else.
Q: What types of jobs will be available, both during construction and long term?
A: Construction will create skilled trade jobs in the short term, and long term the hotel, restaurants, café, market, commercial spaces, theater, and community facilities will create a wide range of permanent jobs right here in Woodlawn so you do not have to leave the neighborhood to find good work.
Q: Is there a formal local hiring commitment in place?
A: Yes, a formal local hiring commitment is part of this project and we intend to honor it fully and transparently as the work gets underway.
The Apostolic Church of God & Woodlawn Central
Is This Really a Community Project?
Q: Is this the church's project or the community's project?
A: Both, because the church and this community are one and the same. The Apostolic Church of God has been your neighbor for 93 years and it is not building this for itself but alongside you and for you, with the full intention of making sure this neighborhood is stronger for generations to come.
Q: How does the community benefit from the church's role in this development?
A: The church's involvement means displacement is actively fought against, ownership stays local, and every decision is made with Woodlawn residents' long-term wellbeing at the center of it. The profits stay here, the land stays here, and the community stays here because of the church's permanent presence and commitment.
Q: Who will own the land and what does that mean for the community long term?
A: The Apostolic Church of God owns all nine lots and the land will never be sold, which is the single most important protection this community has. No outside developer can come in, buy the land, and displace you because the Apostolic Church of God has owned this land for decades and has every intention of keeping it that way.
Q: Will church programs and services continue as normal during construction?
A: Yes, church programs and services will continue as usual throughout the entire construction period because this project is designed to expand what the church does for the community, not slow it down.
Q: How does the church's involvement protect this project from outside interests taking over?
A: The church has always acted in the best interest of Woodlawn and its residents, and ACOG Ventures was created specifically to execute this development while keeping the church fully in control. Outside partners are brought in solely to help build, without any ownership stake in what belongs to this community.
Woodlawn & the Obama Presidential Center
The neighborhood is already changing. Obama Center, new hotels...
Q: A 26-story hotel is being built near the Obama Center by an outside developer. How is Woodlawn Central different?
A: The difference comes down to who is doing it and why. That project is being built by an outside real estate developer with no historic ties to this neighborhood, and the profits from that project leave Woodlawn. Woodlawn Central is being built on land the church has owned for decades, by people who have been members of this community for generations, with profits that stay right here in the neighborhood where they belong.
Q: How does Woodlawn Central work alongside the Obama Presidential Center rather than against it?
A: We fully support the mission of the Obama Presidential Center and we are not here to compete with it. We are here to make sure that the attention and opportunity it brings to this neighborhood actually lands in the hands of the people who already live here, rather than passing them by.
Q: How does this project make sure Woodlawn residents benefit from the increased attention on the neighborhood?
A: By building the opportunity right here so you do not have to go looking for it elsewhere. Jobs, housing, commercial spaces, and community resources are all being created within walking distance of where you already live, so the growth happening in this neighborhood works for you and not around you.
Q: Who is the hotel being built for and how does it serve the local community?
A: The hotel is open to all visitors but its benefits belong to Woodlawn, creating jobs, generating revenue that flows back into the community, and bringing amenities and resources that residents can access and take pride in. There was a 20-story hotel on this very block in 1917 and we are reclaiming what was always rightfully ours.
Get Involved with Woodlawn Central
I want to get involved. How?
Q: How can community members share feedback or ask questions about the project?
A: We want to hear from you and we mean that. Reach out through woodlawncentral.com or directly to the Executive Director of the project, because your feedback matters and it shapes how we move forward.
Q: Are there opportunities for residents to be part of the planning and decision-making process?
A: Yes, and there will be ongoing opportunities for residents to collaborate, share ideas, and raise concerns as the project develops, because this has always been a two-way conversation and that will not change.
Q: How can I stay updated on real progress?
A: Follow updates through woodlawncentral.com, local media, and the alderman's office, and check our YouTube channel where all community meeting recordings from 2021 to 2026 will be archived publicly so you can see every step of the journey for yourself.
Q: Are there upcoming meetings or events to get connected now?
A: Yes, future community meetings will be open to the public and announced through the alderman's office and this website, so stay connected and we will make sure you know when and where to show up.
Q: Who do I contact if I have concerns during construction?
A: Reach out directly to the Executive Director at keithj@acog-llc.com and we will make sure your concern is heard and addressed.
Stay in the Know
We believe transparency is not just a value, it is a practice. Here are the best ways to stay connected and up to date as Woodlawn Central takes shape.
All official press releases, media coverage, and project announcements live here. If you are a journalist or media professional looking for more information, reach out to us directly through woodlawncentral.com/press.
Press
This is where you will find the latest updates, milestones, and stories from Woodlawn Central as the project moves forward. There is a lot happening and we want you to be the first to know, so check back regularly.
News
Every community meeting from 2021 to present has been recorded and archived on our YouTube channel. Watch the full journey, ask questions, and hold us accountable. This story belongs to all of us and we want you to see every chapter of it.
YouTube
Be First in Line
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Woodlawn Central will be releasing a waitlist for residential units and commercial spaces ahead of groundbreaking. If you are a Woodlawn resident or local business owner interested in priority access, sign up below and we will notify you as soon as the waitlist opens.
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