Bickerdike Redevelopment

What Bickerdike Redevelopment does

Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community development corporation founded in 1967 in Chicago, focused on developing, preserving, and managing affordable housing for low and moderate-income residents of the city's north and west side communities, including West Town, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, and Hermosa. The organization operates through three core lines: housing development (new construction and rehabilitation of affordable rental properties), property management via its wholly-owned subsidiary Bickerdike Apartments (overseeing 1,194 units across 140 buildings), and economic development (managing over 90,000 square feet of commercial space including the El Mercado marketplace). Since founding, Bickerdike has invested more than $600 million to develop 2,267 rental and for-sale homes, with 270 additional apartments currently under development and a pipeline of projects such as the 2025-approved 5853 N. Broadway in Edgewater.

The organization's business model blends recurring rental income from below-market-rate apartments and commercial leases with project-based revenue from HUD Section 8 contracts, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) allocations, city of Chicago investment programs, and philanthropic donations and grants from foundations such as Old National Bank Foundation and the Chicago Recovery Plan. Notable technical and sustainability achievements include the Rosa Parks Apartments, which integrates geothermal heating/cooling and solar domestic hot water to achieve LEED Gold certification and multiple national industry awards. The company does not disclose pricing models and offers no public-facing technology platform, API, or mobile applications; distribution is direct through walk-in offices, phone-based inquiries, an online property map, and a waitlist application process.

Governance is member-based, with over 400 individual and 40 organizational members constituting the largest decision-making body and electing the board of directors, reinforced by tenant councils, garden committees, and organizing programs that align resident leadership with operational direction. The organization employs 101–250 staff, many of whom are area residents hired through economic development initiatives. Leadership includes CEO Joy Aruguete (recognized in 2018 with the AFP Outstanding Community Leader Award) and Director of Communications & Engagement Libby I. Juliá. Bickerdike has no parent company, no disclosed private equity backing, and is the first nonprofit owner in Chicago to secure a Section 8 contract renewal with HUD.

Name

Bickerdike Redevelopment

Legal name

Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation

Website

https://bickerdike.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation is a nonprofit community development organization founded in 1967 that develops, preserves, and manages affordable housing and commercial space serving low and moderate-income residents of Chicago's north and west side communities through its property management subsidiary and member-based governance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing

NAICS

Residential Property Managers (531311), Lessors of Real Estate (5311), Residential Building Construction (2361)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI)

Keywords

• Affordable housing development
• Property management services
• Community development
• Commercial space leasing
• Tenant organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Affordable Housing Rentals: Revenue from managing 1,194 affordable apartments including SROs, co-op units, and townhouse apartments. Rentals are priced below market rate for low and moderate-income residents.
2. Commercial Space Leasing: Over 90,000 square feet of commercial space providing essential goods and services to the community. Includes El Mercado anchor tenant Cermak Produce, La Estancia commercial tenants (daycare, alternative high school, diabetes program), Zapata commercial space with Center for Changing Lives.
3. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting affordable housing mission. Includes grants from foundations such as Old National Bank Foundation and Chicago Recovery Plan grants.
4. Government Subsidies and Tax Credits: Project-based Section 8 contracts with HUD, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), and city investment programs for affordable housing development and preservation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation develops, preserves, and manages quality affordable rental housing for low and moderate-income residents in Chicago's north and west side communities. Through its property management arm Bickerdike Apartments, it oversees 1,194 units across 140 buildings. The organization also develops new affordable housing, leases commercial space in mixed-use developments, and runs economic development and tenant organizing programs to confront gentrification and displacement.

Product overview

Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation operates as a nonprofit community development organization offering a portfolio of housing and community services. The core offerings include: Bickerdike Apartments, the property management arm overseeing 1,194 affordable units; Housing Development services for new construction and rehabilitation of affordable properties; Economic Development initiatives managing commercial spaces; and Tenant Organizing programs. These services are complemented by Community Gardens and the Technical Assistance Community Program (TACOM). The organization has developed notable properties including Rosa Parks Apartments (LEED Gold certified), Zapata Apartments, and Lucy Gonzalez Parsons Apartments. Together, these products and services form an integrated approach to community development focused on affordable housing preservation, economic empowerment, and resident engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bickerdike Apartments Property management services for 1,194 affordable apartments ranging from single room occupancy studios (SROs) to co-op units and townhouse apartments across 140 buildings in Chicago's north and west side communities. Targeted at low and moderate-income renters.
• Housing Development New construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing properties, including equitable transit-oriented developments, sustainable buildings, and rental housing that reduces carbon footprint. Targeted at low and moderate-income residents and the broader Chicago community.
• Economic Development and Commercial Space Leasing Job creation initiatives including hiring and training area residents, partnering with local and minority contractors, and developing and managing over 90,000 square feet of commercial space. Includes El Mercado, La Estancia commercial properties, and Zapata commercial space. Targeted at local businesses and community-serving organizations.
• Community Gardens Community garden spaces offering opportunities for residents to grow food and participate in community events. Targeted at neighborhood residents.
• Tenant Organizing Program that identifies and develops resident and member leaders, staffs resident activities, organizes campaigns around issues affecting the community, and increases resident engagement through committees. Targeted at residents and community members.
• Technical Assistance Community Program (TACOM) Free technical assistance program providing referrals to community programs, housing referrals, property tax assistance, landlord/tenant technical assistance, and homeownership assistance. Targeted at community residents seeking services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Invested more than $600 million to construct or rehabilitate 2,267 affordable homes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lakeshore Public MediaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Co-produced mission video 'There's No Place Like Home' with Lakeshore Public Media. Video won Silver Telly Award in Non-Broadcast Public Relations category.
• Cermak ProducecoreOthers · 1 January 1998Locally based independent grocer operating as anchor business at El Mercado (2701 W. North Avenue) since 1998. Bickerdike developed El Mercado as a public marketplace in 1992. Cermak Produce operates a vibrant store where countless residents regularly shop.
• Chicago Youth CentersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaycare center tenant at La Estancia commercial space, affiliated with Chicago Youth Centers Humboldt Park location.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH): National nonprofit focused on preserving and operating affordable rental housing at scale, using LIHTC and project-based subsidies. Directly comparable mission and operating model, with comparable emphasis on long-term affordability preservation rather than market-rate conversion.
• Mercy Housing: One of the largest national nonprofit affordable housing developers and owners/operators in the U.S. Directly comparable business model: develops, owns, and manages affordable rental housing using LIHTC, project-based Section 8, and similar public financing, often in mixed-use configurations serving low-income residents.
• The Resurrection Project: Chicago-based nonprofit community development organization with an integrated housing, economic development, and community organizing model serving Latino neighborhoods on Chicago's southwest and northwest sides. Comparable as a peer CDC operating housing development, community engagement, and tenant/immigrant organizing in Chicago.
• Brinshore Development: Chicago-focused affordable housing developer specializing in LIHTC-financed new construction and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing in Chicago neighborhoods. Highly comparable as a Chicago-based affordable housing developer using similar public financing structures.
• Hispanic Housing Development Corporation: Chicago-based nonprofit affordable housing developer and owner with a comparable mission of developing and managing affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income residents in Chicago. Operates a similar mixed model of housing development, property management, and community development on Chicago's north and west sides.
• Habitat for Humanity Chicago: Chicago affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit affordable housing developer building and rehabilitating homes for low-income residents in Chicago's neighborhoods. Comparable in mission, nonprofit CDC structure, and reliance on public-private partnerships for affordable housing development.
• Genesis Housing Development Corporation: Chicago-based nonprofit affordable housing developer focused on developing and managing affordable rental housing in underserved Chicago communities. Highly comparable as a Chicago-based affordable housing nonprofit using LIHTC and similar subsidy programs.
• Lawndale Christian Development Corporation: Chicago-based faith-rooted nonprofit community development corporation developing affordable housing and commercial real estate on Chicago's west side. Comparable as a peer CDC with an integrated housing, commercial real estate, and community development model serving low-income Chicago neighborhoods.

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Community Partners: Large national nonprofit that both develops affordable housing and operates as a capital and policy intermediary (the Enterprise Green Communities Award program, cited in Bickerdike's awards, is run by Enterprise). Comparable in mission and use of LIHTC but operates at significantly greater scale and broader geographic scope.

Others

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development financial intermediary that provides financing, grants, and capacity building to CDCs including affordable housing developers. Already a partner/award administrator for Bickerdike and a critical source of predevelopment and acquisition financing for peer CDCs across Chicago.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Bickerdike-Redevelopment-Corporation-141503992538871
• Xx.com/bickerdikerc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bickerdike Redevelopment