Renaissance on Kimbark Team- Winner of Chicago Association of Realtors’ 2011 “Bruce Abrams Award”

Condo Project Enhances Woodlawn Neighborhood, Wins Chicago Association of REALTORS’ 2011 “Bruce Abrams Award”

Chicago, Ill. – The fourth phase of the “Renaissance on Kimbark” condominium development, located at 6457 South Kimbark Avenue in Chicago’s Woodlawn community, is the 2011 winner of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® Bruce Abrams Award. The highest honor within C.A.R.’s annual Good Neighbor Awards recognition, the Bruce Abrams Award recognizes quality and innovation in real estate development, and properties created with a passion for serving Chicago residents. The 2011 Bruce Abrams Award was received by Hasani Steele, Steele Consulting Group, @properties, and Lewis Korompolis, Premium Builders.

The concept for this award-winning multiple-phase development dates to 2008 when Steele and Edmund Offokaja, of Stonemason Group, decided to deliver quality housing in Woodlawn with a sales model that would be sustainable into an uncertain economic future. With the help of Hanna Architects, a building prototype was created and development goal set.

“Renaissance on Kimbark” buildings feature luxury 1,700-square-foot simplexes and 2,800-square-foot duplexes with rooftop decks. Each affordably-priced phase pre-sold half its units prior to construction,despite the tough economy.

C.A.R. honored each of the development’sfirst three phases with a Good Neighbor Award for its contribution to community stabilization and helping neighboring properties secure refinancing.

The fourth phase received the 2011 Bruce Abrams Award for its standing as the highest-quality phase in the project yet – and for rising above economic challenges that threatened to derail completion though half the building’s units were pre-sold.

“We rallied the community for approval and pre-sold 50 percent of each phase prior to construction, with buyers coming from the community, surrounding neighborhoods and the suburbs,” Steele said. “We are proud to receive this award as an endorsement of our efforts to give back to the city that supports us.”

C.A.R. presented the 2011 Bruce Abrams Award and 28 other 2011 Good Neighbor Awards at a recognition eventheld on May 18 at Lincoln Park Zoo’s historic Café Brauer.

“The Good Neighbor Awards event is a great opportunity to thank developers and property owners who contribute to the economic success of our city and the appeal of its neighborhoods to families and others who want comfortable and affordable homes,” said Mabel Guzman, President of C.A.R. and REALTOR® with ENVISION Real Estate. “The Good Neighbor Awards truly celebrate property development at its highest calling.”