Two short updates on stories we’ve discussed recently:
- Ald. Joe Moore will support a zoning change that will allow construction of mixed-use development at 1557 – 1561 W Howard St in Rogers Park, site of the suddenly crumbling Wisdom Bridge Theater. The project’s revised design (above) sparked a lively discussion among Yo commenters in late April.
- Ravenswood Station, a $50-million commercial development proposed for the Sears parking lot near Lawrence Avenue and the Metra tracks in Ravenswood, won the approval of residents at a community meeting yesterday by a vote of 100 to four. Eric Rojas of Prudential Rubloff has kept up with this proposal for years and offered some observations on its latest changes through his blog and the comments section of this YoChicago post.
Great work, Eric Rojas!
That will be a fine development.
Regarding the project on Howard, I love the density and I think the design really depends on the materials. If they use cinderblock it will be a disaster–I guarantee it..
Thanks to my neighbors in Ravenswood…I’ll walk 5 mins to a major grocer in a couple years! And, if so inclined, we’ll work-out at the health club!
My only fear is that, in this horrid financing environment, if the developer of this, the Rogers Park proposal, and the hotel/retail proposal in Wrigleyville will be able to see their projects through to fruition.
5 years ago it would have been a piece of cake. Chicago has had so much momentum going for it (at least on the gentrification/global city front–which admittedly leaves out many areas of the city, which is a discussion for another time) and I would hate to see these good, solid projects falter.
Congratulations in getting this project past the myopic NIMBYS. Having these stores available to the area and a major parking lot adjacent to a Metra station will be very beneficial to the city. Too bad you could not get the multi-story apartment (or condo) approved. That would have been a major contribution to transit-oriented development.