Beginning our year-end countdown of Chicago’s tallest construction projects, a six-story building is rising at 4715 N Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Square. Developed by The Community Builders, this mixed-use structure will replace a former parking lot, offering 5,500 square feet of ground-level retail and 63 affordable housing units.
4715 N Western Avenue. Photo by Jack Crawford
4715 N Western Avenue. Photo by Jack Crawford
4715 N Western Avenue. Photo by Jack Crawford
4715 N Western Avenue. Rendering by DesignBridge
4715 N Western Avenue. Rendering by DesignBridge
With DesignBridge serving as the architect, the 76-foot structure will feature light brown masonry and white paneling. The design incorporates terraced setbacks at various levels, coupled with a rooftop area that includes green space and a deck for residents. Alongside this, the building offers new landscaping along the street, a second-floor screen wall, a 31-space parking deck for public and residential use, and various sustainability enhancements.
4715 N Western Avenue. Photo by Jack Crawford
4715 N Western Avenue. Photo by Jack Crawford
4715 N Western Avenue. Site plan by DesignBridge
The parking entrance, situated on Western Avenue, was chosen following input from local businesses and residents. The development’s location offers access to public transportation, including the nearby Brown Line’s Western station and bus routes 11, 49B, and 81.
4715 N Western Avenue. Photo by Jack Crawford
4715 N Western Avenue. Floor plans by DesignBridge
4715 N Western Avenue. Floor plans by DesignBridge
The project has been financed through lender financing, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), TIF funding, and the city’s multi-family program. Secondary sources include donation tax credits, a bridge loan from New Hope Commercial Finance, and a ComEd grant. The containing property, valued at $4.925 million and formerly comprising six separate parcels, was sold by the city for six dollars.
4715 N Western Avenue. Photo by Jack Crawford
4715 N Western Avenue. Photo by Jack Crawford
Leopardo Companies is overseeing the construction in the role of general contractor for the $43.35 million development. A finalized completion date has not yet been revealed.
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Love these yearly countdowns and YIMBY Chicago provides so much detail, which is also great.
I second your sentiment. Jack and Ian and that other guy do great work! Reading this blog is part of my coffee break ritual. THANK YOU!!
Love this project and this countdown!
I am so happy this project is underway; it’ll be totally transformative (in all positive ways) for the neighborhood. This flew in the face of a huge NIMBY revolt; “We need our parking” signs are still scattered on buildings around the neighborhood (which is ridiculous given how much of the surrounding surface area is dedicated to parking!). Turns out we didn’t need the parking, the slogan was just a coded dog whistle aimed at those who feel affordable housing means people of color, and people of color make things bad.
Oh yeah, those folks are just ignorant. This development is yummy and we need more tasty density like this all over, which I ‘spose is happening. Just look at Western Ave down by the 606 and blue line; it’s developed quite nicely along such a wide wide avenue.
Nimbys always complain about parking. What led you to start crying about racism? This is inner city Chicago, Jussie Smollett, where are you finding racists?
Re: racism, you obviously don’t know Lincoln Square. It’s not an “inner city” dynamic. There’s still a healthy population of older white residents (and their progeny) who held out through the “white flight” of the 1970s (and crime waves of 70s and 80s) and have dug their heels in against why perceived “takeover” by those who don’t look like them (other wards further northwest are about 45-50% MAGA voters, per Jussie Smollett). You think all the German-American social clubs are putting up BLM posters in their windows? Feel free to join a local neighborhood Facebook page if you want a closer look. The racists are far from the minority, and they’re not violent, but their heels are really dug in. They mildly oppose almost any new development but the fierce anger at this project was stoked by the words “affordable housing.”
The center of the “we need our parking” movement was Spyner’s Pub at Western/Eastwood, whose owner during the early weeks of BLM protests posted prominently online that peaceful protesters “were primarily of all other races except for black,” and that protesters “should only be allowed in zoos because they act like animals.”
I think it’s important for “YIMBY” types to understand that NIMBY complaints about any project with a component resembling “publicly assisted housing” in a historically white neighborhood can’t just be taken at face value. They know blatant racism isn’t tolerated anymore but still want to keep “others” away by any means necessary.
Meant to say “far from the majority” above! Thankfully most Lincoln Square residents are good folks but the “old guard” is disproportionately represented as building/business owners who’ve held on for decades.
It’s not just historically white neighborhoods. Historically black neighborhoods like south shore are vehemently against housing migrants for fear of “crime increases”. I feel like your overall point is well made but the fixation on skin color takes away from the greater lesson: that classist, colorist xenophobia is a human issue across all income groups and neighborhoods, which would lead to a more holistic solution.
The dingleberries who hung the handmade “NO CHA IN LINCOLN SQUARE” signs on the site fencing a awhile ago before this project got approved 100% had a racist motive behind their completely transparent dog-whistling.
And if you don’t believe that, then you’ve never spent more than 5 minutes in Chicago, or are in massive denial.
Love this series and the progress photos are great! So many angles too.
A little discouraging that 65 affordable units costs $59 million.
Thank you Jack for doing all of this hard work! Chicago has embarrassingly fallen behind NYC and other cities as far as height and density goes. 81 feet tall is our 31st tallest. NYC has 420 feet for their 31st tallest. That would probably be our top 5.
cold joint pours were poorly executed.…this building will crumble and fail in 30 years. Too many pour lines as welll meaning improper concrete vibration. I’d like to see the slump test. As far as affordable? $15 cheeseburger and $5 unleaded …get ready for slums citizens of Chicago ….how many of these “affordable developers” live in Chicago? $1mil per unit? Some serious kickbacks ….build trade schools you dumb hippies.