In a city long defined by housing inequities, Jigzibik is rewriting the story. Rising at 2907 W. Irving Park Road, the seven-story development will be Chicago’s first affordable housing community created specifically for Native Americans, serving households earning between 15 and 60 percent of the area median income.
Led by Native American nonprofit Visionary Ventures in partnership with Full Circle Communities, the project will include 45 apartments, nonprofit and commercial space, and cultural amenities designed to reflect Native traditions. With architecture by Canopy Architecture + Design and construction by Skender, Jigzibik will also feature balconies for cultural practices, a rooftop garden and shared gathering areas.
As the project moves toward completion in the second half of next year, Visionary Ventures Executive Director Shelly Tucciarelli reflects on its origins, the role of cultural authenticity in design, and what Jigzibik could mean for the future of Native community housing across the U.S.
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Jigzibik is a landmark project for Chicago, carrying deep cultural meaning. What motivated you to take part in bringing it to life?
Tucciarelli: I am a proud member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and serve as the executive director for Visionary Ventures NFP Corp., a Native American nonprofit. I previously worked for Illinois Housing Development Authority for over 20 years and could not do any housing for our Native American community.
Through Visionary Ventures, we determined there was a need to address the lack of affordable housing for our urban Native American community. We have been fighting for affordable housing for over 50 years, since the Indian Relocation Act in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Tell us more about your collaboration with Full Circle Communities and the Native American Advisory Council. How did these partnerships shape the project’s direction?
Tucciarelli: I was on the Full Circle Communities Board of Directors for over 6 years and saw firsthand the great affordable housing projects that FCC developed. Visionary Ventures and FCC were both looking for a site in the Albany Park area. We discussed my concept of providing affordable housing for the urban Native community, one of the most underserved communities here in Chicago.
Once we found our site, we determined it would be best to provide input from our Native American community. Visionary Ventures put together the Native American Advisory Council to help design the exterior, interior and services to be brought into the development.
The project’s name and design reflect deep cultural symbolism. How exactly is Indigenous heritage integrated into the development?
Tucciarelli: We have been very intentional about the culturally relevant aspects of Jigzibik. We worked with the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi linguist to help provide the name for our development—which means ‘at the river’s edge.’ And incorporating as many sustainable materials as possible has been a huge factor in the construction process.
What were some of the unique challenges in creating a space that is both culturally resonant and functionally modern?
Tucciarelli: One of the big challenges was incorporating balconies into the design of the building. It was very important to provide balcony access as our community burns sage as part of our culture and most buildings today are non-smoking. It also helps to provide outdoor experience that is a great aspect of urban living. Having the river run through the exterior of the building also provides that more modern feeling.
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How did you maintain construction quality while building apartments that remain affordable for future residents?
Tucciarelli: We worked very closely with the FCC and Canopy teams to ensure we had quality affordable housing development that aligns with today’s affordable housing trends. We are one of the most underserved communities in Chicago standing up for our right for decent, safe affordable housing.
Oftentimes, affordable housing projects face tight budgets that can limit cultural expression. How did you balance cost efficiency with creating a space that authentically reflects Native identity and community values?
Tucciarelli: We were very fortunate to work closely with the City of Chicago’s Department of Housing. They understood how important this project was to our community and helped us work through the budget constraints. There was a lot of value engineering.
Jigzibik includes more than just housing—there are spaces for nonprofits, artists and community gatherings. In what ways does this mixed-use approach support long-term community resilience?
Tucciarelli: Having this space will allow our urban Native service providers to serve our residents. We plan to work with the American Indian Health Services of Chicago to provide diabetes checks, nutritional education and wellness checks and will have a fitness room to help our residents stay healthy.
There is a multi-purpose room on the seventh floor where many of our Native American community members do bead work, make dance regalia and other Native American crafts in a great setting rather than at their kitchen table, and gives them the opportunity to meet other residents.
We are also working with California Indian Manpower Consortium to utilize our commercial space. Workforce development services will be great for our residents and the Native American community.
How did you approach building trust and communication with Native-led organizations and partners throughout the project lifecycle?
Tucciarelli: I have been fortunate to have worked with Skender on many projects when I was with IHDA. They are amazing to work with. We collaborated with Skender to hire as many Native American companies and workers as possible. They were so helpful during our land blessing and we will continue that through the construction phase.
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Were there any internal or external shifts—such as changes in team structure, workflows or decision-making processes—that were made specifically to support the unique goals of Jigzibik?
Tucciarelli: One of the biggest shifts was a new mayor being elected in the middle of our process. We worked hard to build our relationship with Mayor Johnson and the new Department of Housing Commissioner. Our project had stalled for several months, but after a few meetings to provide updates, it started moving forward again.
In your opinion, can this project influence future developments, either within your portfolio or across the industry?
Tucciarelli: Since leaving IHDA I have been doing training and technical assistance in the form of speaking at conferences and instructing webinars. It is so important to educate Indian country on all the funding sources available for quality affordable housing and economic development.
Having this project under construction is a dream come true. I truly believe it will help spur future developments across the country in urban areas. It is important to understand that only 30 percent of Native Americans live on reservations and the other 70 percent live in urban and suburban areas.
And do you have other upcoming projects where you’re applying lessons learned while working on this Chicago development?
Tucciarelli: Absolutely. Visionary Ventures, with Housing For All, are working on The Longfellow Apartments in West Allis, Wis.—a suburb of Milwaukee with plenty of jobs and our Southwest Oneida Administration services building about 15 minutes away. There are several Tribal nations in Wisconsin and we will be working with them to help provide housing for some of the Native American community members in the Milwaukee/West Allis area.
What are you most excited about once Jigzibik opens its doors next year?
Tucciarelli: Being able to provide beautiful, safe, affordable housing for some of our most vulnerable community members. To be able to provide not only housing, but those wraparound services that are so important to help our community members not only live, but thrive.
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