Daniel Levin, a former lawyer who went on to found Chicago-based multifamily developer The Habitat Co., died on Jan. 11 at the age of 94.

Levin founded Habitat in 1971 to manage a series of housing projects totaling 25,000 units across several states, including a 28-acre urban renewal project, South Commons, on the South Side. He was also the company's chairman. Habitat now has over $3B in assets.

“A visionary leader, Mr. Levin was instrumental in shaping the success of Habitat, and his impact extended far beyond the business realm to positively influence the communities he built and the thousands of lives he touched – from residents living in a Habitat building to team members, colleagues, friends, and family he interacted with daily,” Habitat President Matt Fiascone said in a press release.

“As we reflect on Mr. Levin’s legacy, we are reminded of his unwavering commitment to excellence and the profound mark he left on our organization since its founding in 1971,” Fiascone added. “His vision, dedication and passion for creating positive change will continue to inspire us as we navigate the path forward.”

One of Levin's first jobs was as a lawyer at a small firm in Detroit, where he represented the Chicago company that planned and developed Lafayette Park, designed by Mies van der Rohe. In 1957, he moved to Chicago and became involved with the firm that developed all the Mies van der Rohe-designed apartment buildings, which was a catalyst for his venture into the real estate world, according to the release.

During Levin's tenure, Habitat developed several notable projects in Chicago, including the 2,300-unit Presidential Towers property in 1985 and Ogden Commons, a mixed-use, mixed-income property, in 2020. Habitat also was active in Detroit, Atlanta and New York, among other cities, with Levin at the helm.

"As we come to terms with the loss of Mr. Levin, we reflect on the enduring effect he has had on all of us,” the Habitat executive team said in the release. “The entire team at Habitat is committed to upholding Mr. Levin’s vision and perpetuating his legacy of a leader who believed in making a difference in the lives of those we touch.