The Chicago City Council has approved the commercial development at 1675 N Elston Avenue in West Town. Located near the intersection with W Wabansia Avenue and near both Lincoln Yards and the Salt Shed, the project will reuse an existing storage building and adjacent vacant lot. Called ‘The Outset’, the music venue is being developed by a team under the name 1675 Holdings LLC with an undisclosed architect.
Existing views of building and vacant lot via Plan Commission
Rendering of proposed venue via Plan Commission
The work will begin with the redevelopment of the existing two-story and 23-foot-tall building clad in red brick on the north half of the site; this will also include the opening of a new front door and repairs to the exterior facade. Once fixed it will be repainted black with a rippling circle motif and a suspended trellis along the street front, partially covering the entrance and two service windows for a ticket booth and for coat check. The existing loading zone will be used as such again with direct access to the stage and green room areas.
Ground (top) – second (bottom) floor plans of proposed venue via Plan Commission
Rendering of proposed outdoor patio via Plan Commission
Inside will be the new 11,309-square-foot music venue with a ground-floor stage, standing space, bar, and restroom with two stairs leading to the second floor holding a standing room balcony, bar, and larger restrooms. On the southern end of the site will be a new 11,000-square-foot outdoor bar with four containers used as bars, storage, and additional restrooms, separated from the street by a new tall decorative fence. Boating a handful of trees, the centerpiece of the space will be a new large water feature at the center.
Site plan of proposed patio via Plan Commission
Rendering of proposed outdoor patio via Plan Commission
Its location within the North Branch Industrial Corridor means that it doesn’t require any on-site parking, thus it will rely solely on existing street parking, and three bus lines within a seven-minute walk, and five new bike docks at the nearest Divvy station. The venue will also raise and inset the existing bike lane to prevent accidents while adding 17 bicycle parking spaces as well. The $2 million development has now received all necessary approvals and can proceed to permitting, though no timeline is currently known.
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Coat check in Chicago ? Approved !😂