Initial details have been revealed for the mixed-use development at 1624 N Damen Avenue in Wicker Park. Located just north of the six-corner intersection with W North Avenue and N Milwaukee Avenue, the project will replace a long-term vacant lot. The project is being led by Mavrek Development and Canvas Real Estate.
Site view of 1624 N Damen Avenue via Redfin
The 4,000-square-foot lot once held a one-story restaurant building with a large patio which closed around 2016. Soon after the structure was demolished and the lot has sat vacant since; sold in 2018 for roughly $11 million according to Redfin. It was then that a three-story proposal was brought forward that focused on retail and office space but ultimately plans were canceled.
Previous rendering for 1624 N Damen Avenue via Loopnet
Now new details have emerged for an updated four-story proposal rising roughly 40-feet-long. The ground floor will contain a 2,491-square-foot retail space with 17-foot tall ceilings and glass storefront. This will be capped by six residential units spanning half a floor each, all of which will be two-bedroom two-bathroom layouts. Tenants will have access to ground-floor bike parking but no vehicle parking is included.
Ground floor plan for 1624 N Damen Avenue via Canvas Real Estate
The building will be clad in a light-colored brick with dark metal accents and windows. It is also worth noting that marketing brochures for the property show Barnes & Noble as a potential tenant for the recently closed bank Walgreens on the corner. The project will be built as of right with no zoning approvals needed, the developer expects to complete the project in the spring of 2025.
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
great design, fills in a vacant lot, no parking, and mixed use? Should be the standard in this part of the city
100% agree, beautiful, solid infill contributing new and needed tax revenue to the city.
Also, Barnes and Noble wants to open a small form store!? That’s pretty cool, Amazon needs more [local] competition.
i’m shocked the redesign actually looks better. 99% of the time in this city, after community input and all, the redesign gets a height cut, more parking added, value engineered, etc.
and yes a bookstore would be great here.
IMO this is way better than the previous proposal for this site. I hope it gets built quickly!
Hyped for this!! And hyped for Barnes & Noble to take over the bank building as well!
Really looking forward to this one! That lot has been vacant for far too long! Maverk is really doing some exciting infill projects. Love to see that they’re all 2 bedrooms too. My only critique is that the decorative cornice looks flimsy and cheap – you can do modern decoration better, Maverk. Your student housing on Webster has better cornice detail than this.
this is amazing! the vacant lots / storefronts on milwaukee baffle me