Touloupakis Aguirre, LLC is proud to announce that Partner Lupe Aguirre now serves as the outside General Counsel for J. Byron Brazier, the lead developer and visionary behind Woodlawn Central LLC.
Woodlawn Central is a massive, community-driven urban regeneration initiative spanning 8.5 acres around the 63rd Street and Dorchester Avenue corridor in Chicago’s historic Woodlawn neighborhood. Spearheaded by J. Byron Brazier and anchored by the longstanding leadership of the Apostolic Church of God (ACOG), the $895 million mixed-use master plan represents one of the most significant South Side developments in generations.
The groundbreaking “live-work-play” district is explicitly designed as a model for equitable urban growth. Rather than risking neighborhood displacement, the project actively protects current residents, preserves local Black culture, and fosters long-term generational wealth within the community.
The extensive, multiphase development program will ultimately introduce: [[1] (opens in a new tab)]
- 870 to 1,000 multigenerational housing units encompassing affordable, workforce, market-rate, and senior living spaces.
- A 160-room boutique hospitality hotel and a vibrant street-level retail footprint.
- A state-of-the-art Black Box theater and cultural performance venues.
- Innovative neighborhood infrastructure, including a 530,000-cubic-foot vertical greenhouse, a sustainable energy microgrid, and an updated Metra transit head house.
As outside General Counsel, Attorney Lupe Aguirre provides vital legal architecture, public-private partnership oversight, and strategic transactional advice to ensure the complex development seamlessly progresses from municipal authorization to vertical construction. The mega-project reached a historic milestone on August 29, 2026, hosting a massive ceremonial groundbreaking alongside community leaders and city officials. Local coverage of the event can be read at the Hyde Park Herald Groundbreaking Report (opens in a new tab).
“Woodlawn Central is a blueprint for the future of urban development—proving that mega-scale investment can directly empower, rather than displace, a historic community,” said Attorney Lupe Aguirre. “It is an honor to serve as counsel to J. Byron Brazier and the development team as we navigate the complex commercial and municipal frameworks required to bring this incredible $895 million vision to life.”
Our Zoning & Land Use Practice Capabilities
Navigating high-impact urban master plans requires sophisticated legal advocacy at every level of municipal government. The Zoning, Land Use, & Municipal Law practice group at Touloupakis Aguirre, LLC regularly guides developers, real estate investors, and institutional landowners through complex regulatory frameworks to maximize the social and economic value of their portfolios.
Our comprehensive practice capabilities include:
- Large-Scale Master Plan Approvals: Structuring multi-phase planned developments (PDs) and navigating local Planning and Zoning commissions.
- Municipal & Complex Rezoning: Shifting parcel designations to permit high-density residential, industrial, and mixed-use commercial districts.
- Public-Private Partnerships & Compliance: Crafting development agreements, economic incentives, and ensuring compliance with local equity and affordable housing mandates.
- Annexation & Land Acquisition: Securing municipal boundary agreements and integrating unincorporated tracts into village and city infrastructures.
Partner with Us for Your Next Development
Are you a developer, corporate tenant, or non-profit institution looking to pioneer an impactful real estate project in Illinois? Protect your timeline and streamline your municipal strategy by partnering with an experienced legal team.
Contact Touloupakis Aguirre, LLC Today to schedule an executive consultation with our Zoning & Land Use attorneys.