One Roof Community Housing celebrated the comprehensive rehabilitation and grand reopening of Birchwood Apartments in Grand Marais this week with a brief program, a property tour, and lunch.
Lyndsey Andersen, Administrative Coordinator for One Roof, wrote, “We’re grateful to the many partners who helped make this project possible and hope you’ll join us in celebrating this important milestone for the community.”
Built in 1992, Birchwood Apartments is a 24-unit, two-building complex operating under the USDA Rural Development program to provide subsidized, low-income housing for families in Cook County. Over time, severe structural issues developed due to failing plumbing systems. Water damage spread through numerous units, creating unlivable conditions for residents. Following a USDA inspection that revealed the extent of the pipe failures and interior damage, the property was at risk of failing completely, leaving dozens of low-income residents in danger of displacement in a region already facing a critical housing shortage.
Because Birchwood’s tenants were in immediate jeopardy of losing their homes, One Roof took ownership early—effectively executing a rescue operation before assembling the full funding package. To make the project viable, One Roof partnered with local municipal bodies, including the Cook County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) and the Economic Development Authority (EDA).
Rehabilitation work began in 2024, and the major overhaul included gutting and replacing the failing plumbing and mechanical systems, repairing extensive drywall and structural water damage across affected units, and renovating living quarters, kitchens, and common spaces to bring each unit up to modern, dignified living standards.
By staging the construction in phases throughout 2024 and into 2025, One Roof preserved a vital piece of Grand Marais’s limited affordable housing stock without permanently displacing its residents.
The roughly $10 million project leaves Birchwood with 16 2-bedroom and eight 3-bedroom units. Property amenities and improvements include new roofs, siding, windows, and insulation; new domestic water piping systems; and high-efficiency boilers and water heaters. Apartment interiors, common areas, and laundry facilities are fully renovated. Outside, new sidewalks, parking lot, drainage improvements, and new landscaping throughout the property enhance safety and aesthetic appeal. Outdoor amenities include a playground, basketball hoop and recreation area, and a patio with gazebo and grill.
The history of the Birchwood Apartments rehabilitation in Grand Marais stands out as an unusual “rescue project” for affordable housing on the North Shore.
