A demolition permit has been issued for the site at 126 W Grand Avenue in River North. The two-story masonry mixed-use building will be removed, having formerly housed a Rosati’s and office space above. According to a listing by @properties, the 4,300-square-foot building was being sold for $5.7 million. The listing also mentioned that four city lots were being sold at 122-128 W Grand Avenue, suggesting a possible larger development that may arise. However, it is unknown if the owner, BLJ Grand Holdings, has purchased the other three lots.
While parking provisions and transit accessibility related to the new development remain unspecified, the site is notable for its centrality in the River North district. The address has a 97 walking score and a 100 transit score. Bus service for Routes 22, 37, 65, 125, 156 are all available within walking distance. Merchandise Mart station, with service for the Brown and Purple Lines, can be found via a six-minute walk southwest, while Grand Station’s Red Line is accessible via a five-minute walk east.
Maria V Contracting Inc will oversee the demolition. An estimated timeline for the completion of the demolition or the commencement of a new construction project on the site has not been provided, and no other demolition permits for the adjacent sites are pending or issued.
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As long as these properties don’t sit empty for years and years with a construction fence around them, nor get used as a parking lot, this should be a good thing. Getting rid of that billboard will also help the area feel less auto-oriented.
I would think the billboard will stay. It has probably earned more in rent than the building. And I think that billboards, and advertising in general, make an area more vibrant and lively.
With all respect, people make a place vibrant and lively, not billboards.
They kept the billboard over the old Als beef on Ontario up the street.
That whole area is auto oriented. The SE corner of Erie & La Salle has a surface lot and billboard. The NE corner of Ontario & La Salle has a gas station. The Ohio House Motel has the billboard in the surface lot. The entire city block that consists of nothing but a parking lot and one story McDonalds. Of course the entire road configuration is designed to have people speed to/from downtown and to/from the expressway.
Billboards like that are more for suburban areas or along a highway. There’s no place for that in the downtown area. I hope this property gets the infill it deserves.
The Red Line subway is less than two blocks away, closer than Merchandise Mart’s lines. Always good to mention more than what serves the north side. Thank you.
Hi Lynn, thank you for your comment. The omission of Grand was an error and has been updated accordingly
like larry silverstein said on 9/11
“pull it”
Who knows this my be the next tallest building in the city.