A new construction permit was issued July 23 to put a residential building on a small, overgrown lot at 1619 W Lawrence Avenue in Uptown. Located mid-block just west of the intersection of Ashland and Lawrence Avenues, the site has been fenced off for years without any activity. A three-flat previously on the property was demolished back in 2011.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
The permit calls for two residential units in a three-story masonry building, with ground-level retail space along Lawrence. Outdoor parking at the rear of the building is planned, but the number of spaces is not specified. There is an alley bordering the east side of the site, while behind it, there’s an access driveway to parking areas for adjacent properties, so this building will sit on a very small footprint. There is a narrow driveway on the west side of the lot, next to the existing building at 1625 W Lawrence, but it is unknown at this time how much space will be left between the two structures.
The parking-access lane behind the lot. Photo by Daniel Schell
From the access drive, with side driveway at left. Photo by Daniel Schell
Michael Cox is listed as the architect of record. McNea and Sons Construction is named as the general contractor, with Greb Real Estate of Northbrook, IL mentioned as the developer. The application date was October 23, 2023; the estimated cost of construction at the time of issuance is $850,000. Neither a construction start date not completion timeline are known at present.
Construction permit issued July 23, 2024. Via Chicago Data Portal
Residents of 1619 W Lawrence Avenue will have stops right outside their door for the Route 81 bus. The soon-to-be-extended Route 9 bus will also have a stop at the corner of Lawrence and Ashland before turning southbound onto Ashland. Three blocks to the west is the Ravenswood Metra station, with access to the UP-N line. The nearest L platform is the Damen Brown Line, about six blocks southwest.
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Now to redevelop that currency exchange building across the street…