Construction work is ongoing for a four-story with basement, five-unit residential development at 1646 North Orchard Street in the Old Town neighborhood. The City of Chicago issued a new construction permit for the property on June 24, 2024. Urban Edge Group is developing the new homes, as well as handling the general contractor duties. The building is topped out, and brickwork is being added to the exterior walls before window installation begins.
Rendering of 1646 North Orchard Street on a banner at the construction site.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Designed by Hanna Architects, the permit calls for a six-car garage with a roof deck at the rear of the site, a roof deck atop the residential building, and rear terraces on all four levels in the back. The building replaces a two-story multi-unit residence built in the late 1860s. Property records show a sale for that building at just under $2.5 million in 2024; it was issued a permit for demolition in July of last year.
Construction progress as of mid-October, 2024. Photo by Daniel Schell
Post-demolition from the alley, taken August 8, 2024. Photo by Daniel Schell
1644-46 North Orchard Street, permitted for demolition July 23, 2024. Photo by Daniel Schell
Residents of 1646 will live one block north of North Avenue, and stops for the Route 72 North bus and Route 9 Ashland Night Owl bus. Two blocks away at North and Halsted is the North/Clybourn Red Line subway station, as well as stops for the Route 8 Halsted bus.
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The little extra brick details I think really will go a long way to make the building more interesting. More of this, John C Hanna, and less of your usual generic designs
Wait, 1860s? So were those buildings pre-Chicago fire?
Why is Chicago demolishing an historic 1860’s building?? Why isn’t this neighborhood designated an historic district?? Every day Chicago is losing its historic legacy.
please define “historic”
I’m not sure the original building was historic tbh. It’s possible the frame was but the exterior was concrete and plaster. I walked by it every day and was always perplexed how such a plain mix of materials had a cornice and rather cute symmetry. Perhaps it was old and was just gutted and renovated to hell and back over the years.
The one torn down appears to be Italiante – which was popular between 1860 and 1880. So it could have been built just before the fire in 1871, which could make it “historic” by virtue of surviving the fire – or it could have been built just after the fire. In any case, we don’t know anything about it’s condition – some were built on poor foundations, some were “re-muddled” in the 70’s and don’t have much original detailing left. The exterior appears to have been stripped of all detailing below the roof line.
Here’s a link to the City’s definition of historic https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dcd/provdrs/hist.html
Hanna with a somewhat good design????? I’ll wait to see the final product