Awards recognize excellence in community development and architectural achievements in Chicago’s neighborhoods

LISC Chicago has announced the opening of applications for the Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards (CNDA). Now entering its 23^nd year, the CNDA recognize innovation and best practices in neighborhood development. The awards program is the most venerated celebration of the creativity and accomplishments that transform neighborhoods across the City.

“With attendance growing every year, the Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards is one of the largest programs dedicated to recognizing extraordinary initiatives in Chicago’s neighborhoods,” said Deborah E. Bennett, CNDA jury chair and senior program officer at the Polk Bros. Foundation. “The awards are a time to celebrate positive change, offering inspiration to the many individuals and organizations dedicated to community revitalization.”

Established in 1995, CNDA was created to celebrate and honor the outstanding achievements in neighborhood real estate development and community building, as well as the essential role that both non-profit and for-profit developers play in building healthier neighborhoods throughout Chicago.

“For more than two decades, The Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards have honored and celebrated incredible community development work taking place in our great city,” said LISC Chicago Executive Director Meghan Harte. “I know there is outstanding neighborhood real estate development and community building taking place across Chicago and I look forward to seeing this year’s applicants.”

In total, nine awards will be given out – six community development awards will be presented along with three Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Architectural Excellence in Community Design. This year is the 20^th anniversary of the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Architectural Excellence in Community Design.

“As we anticipate the 20^th year of The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design, it is important to reflect on the impact the award has had throughout the city,” said Kim Coventry, executive director of The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. “Now more than ever neighborhood leaders, developers, and city officials recognize the importance of good design to improve the lives of individuals and as an essential condition of livable and healthy neighborhoods. Over the last 20 years, the Driehaus Foundation Award has been presented to architects whose project put the inhabitants and community at the center of the design choices.”

All award submissions go through an extensive review and nominees include for-profit and non-profit developers and organizations as well as architectural firms, and may be self-nominated or nominated by others. Applications are open for the following awards.

Six community development award categories are open to Chicago-area organizations and developers for application:

• The Chicago Community Trust Outstanding Community Plan Award: Recognizes the development and successful implementation of a community plan or strategy within Cook County that improves quality-of-life or addresses a specific need, opportunity or issue through a comprehensive planning and implementation model. Winning recipient receives $15,000.

•  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Healthy Community Award: Recognizes a successful community- based effort to improve the health of a low-to-moderate income neighborhood in the Chicago metropolitan area through creative and collaborative strategies. Winning recipient receives $15,000.
•  The Richard H. Driehaus Award for Outstanding Non-Profit Neighborhood Real Estate Project: Recognizes a community development corporation for a specific real estate project that has contributed significantly to the enhancement of the community. Winning recipient receives $15,000.

•  The Polk Bros. Foundation Affordable Rental Housing Preservation Award: Recognizes a for-profit developer or a non-profit community development organization for a specific real estate project in the City of Chicago that has preserved affordable rental housing. Winning recipient receives $15,000.

• The Outstanding For-Profit Neighborhood Real Estate Project Award: Recognizes a for-profit developer for a specific real estate project that has contributed significantly to the enhancement of the community. A monetary award is not made for this recognition. 

• The Woods Fund Chicago Power of Community Award: Recognizes an organizing campaign that has achieved and sustained a victory that measurably improves the vitality of a community and/or positively affects the quality-of-life of a group of people. Winning recipient receives $15,000. 

Three Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Architectural Excellence in Community Design are open to Chicago-area organizations for application:

• Awarded to three different recipients: Recognizes the importance of great architecture and craftsmanship to city life. The recipients: architects and project sponsors who, through restoration or new construction, have created buildings and spaces that enhance Chicago’s neighborhoods. The goal: to encourage tomorrow’s builders to honor and emulate those architects and builders who made Chicago what it is today. The impact: an even more beautiful city with neighborhoods that are home to all of Chicago’s citizens. Projects must be located in or serve low- and moderate income communities in Cook County. All projects submitted must have been completed within the last five years. The top recipient receives $15,000; second place recipient receives $3,000; and, the third place recipient receives $2,000.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. CST on September 9, 2016. Applications are only accepted and must be submitted online. Monetary awards will be presented to winners, who will be announced and honored on February 28, 2017 at McCormick Place.

To apply and for more information on project eligibility and rules please visit http://app.lisc-cnda.org/