GSDC is a recognized leader in community development at both the local and national levels. The organization's solid track record of success is backed by commercial, industrial, and residential accomplishments. In 2001, the organization earned the Community Development Corporation of the Year award from Chicago's Local Initiative Support Corporation. Click here to view a short video of GSDC's work in the community!

To date, GSDC has been directly responsible for $500 million invested or retained in the community. Some major commercial and industrial development project successes include:

• Developing a Jewel Osco Supermarket, which received a $2 million Urban Development Action Grant and an U.S. Department of Health and Human Services equity injection grant of $497,000. The Jewel grocery store project was key to keeping 63rd & Western a vibrant retail district.
• Attracting the interest of developers seeking to build a ten-screen Cineplex Odeon Movie theater at 6200 S. Western Ave. GSDC worked with developers to encourage building the complex, which utilized Tax Increment Financing.
• Bringing StyleMaster - a newly-constructed plastics manufacturing plant owned and operated by an African-American female entrepreneur - to a previously underutilized site at 77th Street and Columbus Avenue. (For more information about this exciting project, or to view a video, please click here.)
• Working to retain the Nabisco Plant, at 7300 S. Kedzie Ave., which produces 22 million Oreo cookies a day, when owners were considering relocating out of the area.

GSDC successfully constructed three senior housing developments that offer 248 affordable apartments to the community's seniors. The first building, Churchview Manor Apartments, was completed in 1992 using low-income housing tax credits and grant financing from the Chicago Department of Housing and the Illinois Housing Development Authority. The second building, Lawn Terrace Apartments, was completed in 1997. October 2004 marks the completion of GSDC's third senior housing development; Churchview Senior Campus' 86-unit supportive living facility.

The independent-living developments are professionally serviced by GSDC, and the supportive living facility by Blair Minton & Associates, to provide high quality rental opportunities for income-qualified seniors. GSDC oversees the property management of all three buildings.

GSDC has worked to develop high quality, affordable homeownership opportunities for first-time buyers. GSDC purchased and substantially rehabilitated eight properties (representing nine units); selling the homes to income-qualified buyers upon completion. The houses were kept affordable with grants, subsidies and special financing.

GSDC offers a variety of programs that provide educational opportunities, technical assistance, and financial support to area residents. Each year, the organization:

• Provides foreclosure prevention counseling to more than 60 homeowners
• Performs minor repairs for 8 senior citizens
• Offers educational workshops to 150 residents
• Completes accessibility modifications 10 seniors
• Offers individual financial counseling to 60 homeowners
• Provides ongoing technical assistance to 60 homeowners during home improvement projects

GSDC and the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) led the effort to fight predatory lending practices in Illinois. This work, carried out despite strong opposition from financial institution lobbyists, pushed to set up rules and sanctions to curb predatory lending practices.

GSDC's and SWOP's efforts resulted in some of the strongest national anti-predatory lending regulations to date. GSDC also generated a pool of over $1.5 million in financing/funding to combat single-family foreclosures and vacancies.

Most recently, SWOP and GSDC worked with Speaker Michael Madigan and Senator Sandoval to pass House Bill 4050, which allows the development of pilot program designed to reduce foreclosures in Cook County. The program includes compiling a database of all the information from mortgage originators, appraisers and realtors involved in loan transactions and requires that all sub-prime borrowers receive consumer credit counseling from a HUD-certified counseling agency before a loan can close.

GSDC drove the creation of the CSX investment fund, which reflects an agreement with the U.S. Treasury and the City of Chicago that will generate $6 to $12 million in funding over the next 20 years for neighborhood revitalization projects.

GSDC pushed for this fund when the organization's plans to develop an industrial park were undermined by CSX's (a freight rail company) development of an intermodal facility. In a negotiated settlement, CSX agreed to replace the TIF loss by funding a Neighborhood Investment Fund over the course of 20 years. CSX placed $1 million in the fund in year one, and for each of the following 19 years will place either $300,000. or $1.00 for each shipping container that passes through the facility - whichever is more - in the fund.

The New Communities Program (NCP) is an ambitious program to support comprehensive community development in 16 Chicago neighborhoods. More than $17.5 million has been committed to the NCP by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, LISC/Chicago, and other funders.

GSDC was selected by the NCP to lead planning, organizing, and coordinating efforts in the neighborhood of Chicago Lawn.

The Fannie Mae Foundation selected GSDC as one of only seven community development organizations across the country to participate in the "Building Neighborhood Assets" initiative. Through this initiative, GSDC worked to stabilize neighborhoods through marketing, education, financial assistance, and by building cooperative efforts with other area agencies and the City of Chicago.

The Storehouse sells building materials to community-based groups, churches, low- to moderate-income individuals, and organizations for a nominal amount. The Storehouse is open to members only (individuals must be sponsored by an organization). GSDC helps individuals access this important resource and in 2003, sponsored more than 600 individuals; the greatest number of referrals by any single organization in Chicago.

At the heart of GSDC's work in the community is the effort to encourage and support strong Block Clubs and Resident Associations, which are critical to community stabilization. GSDC was directly involved in creating over 30 associations and continues active involvement with more than 15 neighborhood block clubs.

GSDC played a major role in developing and organizing this project; a group of Catholic parishes working to stabilize the community. The group developed into the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP), expanding its network to include congregations, mosques, and local public school councils. SWOP now has over 29 member institutions representing over 31,000 families in the neighborhood.

GSDC's Executive Director, James Capraro, was appointed by the Mayor to serve as a member on the Governing Commission of the Southwest Home Equity Assurance Program (SWHEAP). Homeowners enrolled in the SWHEAP program are assured of the value of their home through a special insurance reserve fund.

GSDC was instrumental in creating the 63rd Street Growth Commission, which works to improve the major commercial corridor located on 63rd Street. GSDC continues to actively participate in Growth Commission projects.

GSDC was a major participant in the Model Bungalow Block located at 6400 S. Fairfield Ave. (the team included the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association, the City of Chicago, Neighborhood Housing Services, SWHEAP, and the Chicago Chapter of the AIA). GSDC contributed significantly to marketing the project and worked with Chicago's Department of Housing to help ensure that an additional 21 bungalow homeowners in the area each received up to $30,000 for home improvement projects depending on their needs.

GSDC is responsible for the 63rd Street annual holiday parade, now celebrating its 25th year. Held the first Saturday in December, the parade serves to kick off the holiday shopping season by attracting some 25,000 people, who stretch for over two miles along 63rd Street.