Sarah Wick is a longtime advocate for affordable housing and currently leads the affordable housing development business at Related Midwest. In her role, Wick has played a pivotal role in preserving and building over 10,000 affordable residences across Chicago and the Midwest. Since joining Related, she has overseen more than $1 billion in investments that create or modernize safe, welcoming, affordable communities that families are proud to call home.
Wick has led several significant projects for Related Midwest, including the transformation of Lathrop, a multiyear, multiphase redevelopment that is revitalizing a historic riverfront site into a vibrant mixed-use, mixed-income community. Under her leadership, Related has delivered 488 units of mixed income rental housing, along with a renovated park and riverwalk. Wick is currently leading the next phase of redevelopment, which includes the renovation of seven historic buildings and construction of a new residential building, bringing an additional 309 mixed-income units to the community.
In 2021, Wick led Affordable Illinois, an advocacy effort to enact state legislation that offers a reduction in real estate taxes for property owners who provide a set-aside of affordable housing. The change in state legislation has paved the way for the creation of numerous affordable housing units, including 60 at The Row Fulton Market, a 300-unit rental tower Related Midwest completed in 2023 as the first major project in Chicago to utilize the incentive.
Wick is an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a current board member of the ULI Advisory Council, a former board member of the ULI Chicago Women’s Leadership Initiative, and a past protégé of the ULI Chicago Mentorship Program. Wick has also received a ULI Young Visionary Award, along with a ULI Women’s Leadership Initiative Achievement Award Scholarship. She was named to Crain’s Chicago Business’ 2019 class of 40 Under 40, honoring proven leaders with substantial business and civic contributions.
Wick holds a master’s degree in regional and urban planning from the Pratt Institute and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
