Financing has been secured to kick off the construction of the residential development at 537 W Drummond Place in Lincoln Park. The project will be replacing a surface lot as the second phase of the Covent Hotel redevelopment on the corner with N Clark Street. Local developer Drummond Development is leading efforts with architecture firm Brininstool + Lynch on the design.
Site plan of 537 W Drummond Place by Brininstool+Lynch
Rendering of 537 W Drummond Place by Brininstool+Lynch
Originally proposed and partially approved in 2021, this second phase of the development was not able to secure funding though it scored building permits in 2022. Thus the Covent Hotel went forward with redeveloping its 64 SRO’s into 30 affordable units with multiple spots of ground floor retail. Now the team has secured a $29 million loan to kick-off phase two.
Rendering of restored Covent Hotel and new mixed-use project by Weese Langley Weese and Brininstool + Lynch
Elevations of 537 W Drummond Place by Brininstool+Lynch
Set to rise seven stories and 80-feet in height, the structure will fill out the rest of the block with a small pedestrian alley between the two buildings. Its ground floor will contain a small lobby, a large amenity space on the corner to activate the street front, 57-bike parking room, and 52 vehicle parking spaces split between an enclosed garage and off of the alley.
Ground floor plan of 537 W Drummond Place (right) by Brininstool+Lynch
Floor plan of 537 W Drummond Place (right) by Brininstool+Lynch
The rest of the mid-rise above will contain 84 residential units made up of 12 studios, 30 one-bedroom, 24 one-bedroom + den, and 18 two-bedroom layouts. Two of those will be considered affordable as the project was approved prior to the city’s 20 percent affordability requirement, with $800,000 paid in lieu of the remainder.
Rendering of 537 W Drummond Place by Brininstool+Lynch
Rendering of 537 W Drummond Place by Brininstool+Lynch
The building itself will be clad in a cream color brick facade with black metal panel accents and glass railings. Previously expected to be completed by 2024, the building will now begin construction soon as the loan gets ready to close. The developers expect to complete the project in March 2026.
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Excited to see this happen, that lot is a waste of space. Now if only McDonald’s would sell it’s property so that bit of drive through suburb can be replaced with something much better contributing to the neighborhood. Nothing wrong with McDonald’s, just need a proper building that adjoins the others at the street front and no drive through.
I totally agree Jim. I remember that parking lot when I worked on Diversey way back in the 80’s. The same disaster is at Clark/Halsted/Barry. An 80’s suburban nightmare. Demolish it all and make dense housing.
IT’s criminal that the city is renovating away 34 SRO units in the old hotel building. Yes, it’s nice to make nicer apartments. But that does not make up for the fact there are 34 fewer people who will be housed in the building. Those are people who probably lead kinda precarious lives, and the city should be thinking of their welfare.
This is a pattern with the city: taking small, old units and spending stupid amounts to make bigger apartments. I dare say, it’s quite likely the city is the biggest destroyer of small units that serve people on the margins of society. It’s quite likely the city has a major role in creating homelessness, definitely far more than we realize.
As I see it the city SAVED 34 affordable small apartments as the hotel could have easily been demolished for market-rate new construction. I also believe any adult deserves better than the dorm-like conditions most SROs provide to residents.
It’s nice to wish people larger apartments. But resources are finite. And when you demand better things for a few, a bunch more are going to go without anything. There are 34 former residents whose whereabout are probably unknown, and quite likely not good.