Chicago Housing Authority Program Management

The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) is the largest owner of rental housing in Chicago, providing homes for over 50,000 families and individuals while fostering healthy communities across the city. As part of its ambitious Plan for Transformation, CHA redeveloped or rehabilitated its entire stock of public housing. This historic effort was the largest of its kind by a public housing agency in the United States. To support this initiative, CHA retained Specialty Consultants, Inc. (SPC) to offer environmental consulting services on an as-needed basis for system-wide capital construction projects.

SPC provided a comprehensive range of environmental consulting services across more than 80 CHA properties. These services included emergency response, NEPA environmental assessments, Phase I and II environmental site assessments, regulatory compliance permitting (including FESOP air quality permits), and underground storage tank services. Additionally, SPC has managed IEPA Site Remediation Program reporting, environmental remediation oversight and field inspections, and asbestos and lead-based paint assessment and abatement oversight. The firm also addressed indoor air quality and mold assessment and abatement oversight, prepared remediation design and specifications, and facilitated Illinois SRP closures.

SPC's role involved addressing unique challenges such as managing regulatory compliance, ensuring the health and safety of residents during construction, and coordinating with various stakeholders to mitigate environmental risks. By providing these comprehensive services, SPC supported CHA in its mission to transform public housing and improve the quality of life for Chicago's residents.