Residents in the West Loop have been fending off highrise buildings in favor of lofts and mid-rises for some time now but there is always the exception to the zoning rule if a developer is prepared to stump up some money for affordable housing and a “starchitect” has a hand in the project.
The Cornerstone Group is paying the city $180,000 to increase the height of its planned residential building at 618-630 W Washington (at North Des Plaines Street) from the neighborhood zoning limit of 175 feet to 350 feet. The building is designed by famed architect Lucien Lagrange.
The Planning Commission gave the nod to the 31-story, 190 unit building last week and it now awaits a final vote at City Hall. One objection to the project was apparently lodged with the city but planning bureaucrats backed the development, saying that it will continue the revitalization of the West Loop, while commissioners praised the mooted design.
Commissioners commented that the developer didn’t get much additional space for the $180,000 that the company had handed over.
The steel and aluminum highrise will include 425 parking spaces, some available to the general public, as well as retail and office space. The highrise will be built on land that is currently a parking lot. Previously commissioners had raised concerns that the highrise would increase traffic problems in the area but said at the meeting that the final blueprint had addressed their concerns.
Drop us a line if you are familiar with that part of the West Loop and let us know what you think of the project.