Plans are advancing for the redevelopment of the former Washington Park National Bank at 6300 S Cottage Grove Avenue. Located on the corner with E 63rd Street in Woodlawn, plans for the redevelopment date back to 2019 and have seen various iterations throughout the time. Now the development team, DL3 Realty, has been hosting community input meetings.
Current Bessie Coleman Library (left) – 6300 S Cottage Grove Avenue (right) via Google Maps
Built in 1924 and designed by Albert A. Schwartz in the Neoclassical-style, the project calls for a preservation and restoration of its facade and partial gutting of its interior. This will bring the completed structure to six-stories in height with a glass curtain wall facade set-back from the original exterior. All of this is being designed by bKL Architecture.
Current view of 6300 S Cottage Grove Avenue via Preservation Chicago
Previous (left) – updated (right) rendering of 6300 S Cottage Grove Avenue by bKL Architecture
During the community meetings, minor changes to the plans were revealed. The structure will still include around 70,000 square-feet of Class A office space on the upper levels, some of the first on the South Side in 30 years, but will now be officially anchored by the relocation of the Bessie Coleman Public Library from next door.
Updated rendering of 6300 S Cottage Grove Avenue by bKL Architecture
The library will take over all of the second floor and part of the first, unlocking funds for the project as the city will look at keeping part of the existing library for additional office space and parking. The library would also be joined by a small ground floor retail space, and stepped terraces along the side of the structure.
Corner rendering of 6300 S Cottage Grove Avenue by bKL Architecture
Now known as ‘Revive 63’ by the developer, the original cost for the proposal was set to be around $40 million, however this was when they expected a 2025 completion. That date has now been pushed, with construction anticipated to commence in the spring of 2026 and to be fully completed in 2028, with the library portion opening in late 2027.
The local community can find out more about upcoming meetings and leave their feedback on the project here.
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So, from the time the plan was initially introduced (2019) to the time of its proposed completion (2028) is nine years. If it takes nearly a decade for a small scaled project to come to fruition in Chicago, we are in big trouble. These kinds of timelines simply aren’t sustainable given the numerous needs facing the city.
Hmmm…what happened in 2020 that delayed real estate projects?
Total madness
If this was a single use, single owner project, that would be a very justifiable concern. However, given the complexity of the site, including historic preservation, multiple owners, multiple users, a less expensive marketplace, etc. and the pandemic, I don’t think this is an example of the City causing delays. The City certainly needs to improve its processes, but I don’t think this is an example of it.
Regardless of who’s or what’s the hold up, a decade for a project of this size is ridiculous.
Historic renovations like this take forever… and we wonder why builders want to tear down old properties and build new?