The Chicago City Council has approved the redevelopment of the structure at 1934 W North Avenue in Wicker Park. Located on the corner with N Winchester Avenue not too far from The Robey, the project would restore a large portion of the building’s character. Efforts for the development are being led by Envoi Partners LLC.
Site plan of 1934 W North Avenue by Seek Design + Architecture
Rendering of 1934 W North Avenue by Seek Design + Architecture
Rising three-stories above ground with roughly 16,400 square-feet of space, the building dates back to 1907 and was the home of MTV’s famed The Real World Chicago in 2001. Now after housing a gym for a while, the developer has brought on local firm Seek Design + Architecture to work on its new layout and interiors.
Floor plans of 1934 W North Avenue by Seek Design + Architecture
On the outside, the building will receive facade restorations and a new exterior around the ground floor commercial space. New larger windows, entry door, and black painted aluminum storefront will frame the 2,590 square-foot commercial space. The floors above will now contain nine residential units made up of studios, one-, and two-bedroom layouts.
Rendering of 1934 W North Avenue by Seek Design + Architecture
Rendering of 1934 W North Avenue by Seek Design + Architecture
The existing entry will be renovated as the residential entrance with a small mail space. There will also be no added vehicle parking spaces. The approval now rezones the site in order to kick off work on the conversion, however at the moment no timeline has been announced nor have any permits been applied for.
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Condo or rental units? Price ranges?
Throw in some 2nd and 3rd story windows that better match the early 1900s and call it a done deal.
Ridiculous that this building should require a rezone to allow apartments in a residential area. What possible public purpose can this serve?
All the restrictive zoning accomplishes is to require owners to go on bended knee to the alderman, with campaign cash in hand, asking for the change. And also gives the alderman the ability to raise campaign cash from community groups that seek to prove their worth by stopping dastardly conversation to residential in a residential area.
The whole system is both dumb and corrupting.
1. North Ave is a commercial street, not residential
2. The zoning for this building allowed a gym to operate, which requires specific building considerations
3. Residential requires entirely different considerations not least of which is density of units
4. Property owners live zoning because it provides a level of control and consistency
Your faith in the power of zoning and its arbitrary distinctions to make a better world is touching.
Just remember: virtually none of the neighborhoods we consider charming and quintessentially urban today could have been built under the zoning code.
Asymmetrical facade
I worked in that building 10 years ago and it is straight-up haunted