The Chicago Plan Commission has approved a new retail building at 939 N Rush Street in the Gold Coast. Located near the intersection with E Oak Street, one of the premier retail corridors in the city, the proposal would replace an existing three-story structure built in 1957 that was most recently occupied by Italian fashion brand Brunello Cucinelli and has since moved next door. Developer JMB Realty LLC is working with local design firm Stephen Rankin & Associates on the new storefront.
Site plan of 939 N Rush Street by Stephen Rankin & Associates
The Oak Street and Gold Coast area has recently seen many retailers relocate from nearby Michigan Avenue including the recently opened Chanel store but is also seeing more inventory added in the form of the subdivided ex-Barneys New York flagship store. It is worth noting that the daytime population within one mile is over 215,000 people, with over 35 hotels offering more than 9,000 rooms within a half mile from the site, all catering to affluent clientele along with nearby giants like Dior and Versace.
First floor plan of 939 N Rush Street by Stephen Rankin & Associates
The new structure would downsize the overall square footage built on the lot, offering 4,848 square feet of retail space, roughly a 2,000-square-foot loss from the existing building. Each of the roughly 100 feet deep by 25 feet floors will provide 2,400 square feet with no designated extra storage floor and will require a full tenant build-out as it will be delivered as a white-box space. One single occupancy restroom and janitor’s closet will be offered with the top floor connecting an existing pedestrian bridge to an emergency exit in the building behind.
Current view of 939 N Rush Street via Google Maps
The design will be framed with a stone finish with an exposed aluminum frame curtain wall with darkened spandrel glass ready for displays, the two sides clad in insulated metal panels. The 34-foot-tall structure won’t require any rezoning as it is downsizing on the existing lot, however no tenant nor construction timeline has been announced at the moment.
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
How does this make any sense?! The new building will be SMALLER than the old? Unacceptable to build only two stories tall in this location.
It will now be the same height as the rest of the buildings to the right/South.
This is fantastic news, I used to have to drive out to the suburbs to shop at Retail Sign.
They are really ahead of their time at Retail Sign. That should be their slogan!
I love the people coming out of the alley….as if……..clearly this is a placeholder until the entire block comes down for a bigger building in the future….otherwise, why?
and it is a paver/brick alley. Cause you want to spend that kind of money on an alley.
Another boring box-shaped eyesore building. Have all the good architects left Chicago?
Behind every project is a developer paying the architect to so what THEY want. Can we stop assuming this is always the fault of an architect? Often times their stuff gets dumbed down by the person actually paying them money.