Laramie State Bank Revitalization
Austin, Chicago
INVEST South/West is a $750 million initiative led by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, that is focused on a number of underserved neighborhoods. The project we are bidding on is expansive, involving the renovation of a historic bank landmark and the development of commercial retail and residential property.
Syzygy Cities' role in this program is to align business interests with community benefit, ultimately investing time and resources into the people of Austin that will in turn empower them to thrive in pursuits of education, business, and quality of life. Learn more about the dynamic partnership model below.
548 Development Coalition is built on diversity, made up of 100% minority and/or women-owned businesses.
“I’ve seen the way that investments are made and I know the kind of money that is moving. I know that if we could direct even a small percentage of money to these neighborhoods correctly and intentionally, we could shift the narrative forever.”
— A.J. Patton, 548 Development
The Proposed Program
This development aims to serve a wide range of the community by addressing immediate needs
while also planning for long-term quality of life improvements.
Soul City STEAM Center
Food & Wellness
Sustainable Housing
Digital Connectivity
Community Greenspace
Cannabis Dispensary
Black and Latinx voices and history contain a wealth of inspiring culture to bring to the world; This center will be a grassroots platform to continue elevating these cultures through art and media creation.
Soul City STEAM Center
Que4 Radio + Production
Latinx-owned creative studio Que4 will outfit space with facilities and programming that typically present a barrier to entry for low-income communities, including studio equipment for video streaming, production, lighting rigs, sound systems, print/art studio, and creative shop.
Chicago Human Rhythm Project
CHRP/ARC helps partners develop affordable programs that serve all ages, centralizing education programs, rehearsal space, and admin offices of independent orgs. They offer diverse, high-quality dance classes to the general public (including American Tap, Afro-Fusion, Bollywood, Modern, Hip Hop, Capoeira, and Yoga),
West Town Bikes
Empowering youth of all abilities and circumstances to build stronger, healthier communities with offerings such as open shop time, Bike Club and Girls Bike Club, after school programs, internships, bicycle repair classes, workshops, and special events. Currently serving up to 1,000 youth per year.
Black Women Talk Tech
BWTT supports entrepreneurs and brings education to the community for businesses to grow and thrive. Hosting classes, training, and conversations with people in the community to help people from Austin start their own business and elevate them to be entrepreneurs.
Photo Start
A nonprofit that uses digital photography and video to connect under resourced children with modern opportunity, developing talents of self-expression and visual storytelling to learn how to authentically reflect their own cultures, beliefs, and narrative.
Empowering local Black owned restaurants that give back to the community with prime real estate and programming to facilitate their work.
Food & Wellness
Majani Soulful Vegan
Created by Nasya and Tsadakeeyah Emmanuel, committed to building and nourishing the community through innovative plant-based cuisine.
Turkey Chop Gourmet Grill
Turkey Chop Gourmet Grill offers healthier fast-food in low-income communities, and does not serve beef or pork. They have given away more than 270,000 meals.
Bikettle Studio
Combined with the health conscious restaurant is group fitness studio Bikettle, which features spin bikes paired with kettlebell exercises in a community setting.
Millennium Solar Electric, the largest minority run solar training program in Illinois, will skill a cohort of local residents that participate in building this development.
Participants will be placed in full-time construction careers at completion of the project
Viola is a proven community-oriented brand with a reputation for creating jobs and nurturing culture in surrounding communities through accelerator programs and agripreneur education. They plan to establish a training center to teach employees and educate customers about using cannabis responsibly
Viola Dispensary
548DC builds Inclusive Health & Sustainable Wealth by strategically integrating programming within every tenant’s commercial lease structure to:
Benefit local businesses by generating more foot traffic
Enhance the skills of the local population through access to education and resources
Design for multipurpose, long-lasting sustainability.
Retain value through a scrap and repair economy,
Create jobs & revenue streams that infuse money into the local economy.
