A demolition permit has been issued for the turn-of-the-century residential building at 3631 North Sheffield Avenue in Wrigleyville. It’s the first of three adjacent buildings to be razed for a new residential development just beyond the right field ivy at Wrigley Field, with 3627 to its south and 3633 North Sheffield to its north surely soon to follow.
Rendering of 3627 North Sheffield Avenue by DXU Architects
Wrigley Baseball Group LLC is tearing down the trio of residential structures to clear space for 29 units inside a new five-story building designed for them by DXU Architects. We got solid details about the forthcoming project in August of last year.
Remember when the Torco sign was up there? Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Looking south down Sheffield Avenue. 3633 (left) 3631 (center) and 3627 (right) The “Benjamin Moore” building stays. Photo by Daniel Schell
Public records site CountyOffice.org shows 3631 North Sheffield, built in 1899 or 1900, was purchased by the redevelopment group for $3.425 million in May 2023. According to Crain’s, they’ve owned the two bookending buildings since 2012.
The garage, a much humbler building, goes too. Photo by Daniel Schell
Demolition permit for 3631 North Sheffield Avenue, issued 02/25/2025. Via Chicago Data Portal
Precision Excavation is named in the permit as the demolition contractor. As demolition permits are generally issued the same day on which their applications are filed, there aren’t yet pending permits in the Chicago Data Portal for 3633 and 3627 North Sheffield, but it’s anticipated those could arrive any day now.
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Why can’t they just put some seating on the roof of the building. I think I would have a lot less problem with this projects if they could simply put some stands on the roof, even if it’s for just the residents. I’m sure that would be quite a marketable item for a minimal cost, also
The giant video board in right field blocks the rooftop views.
That building has always had a billboard on the roof.
Old, classic Chicago is bulldozed, for something that could be built in Orlando. No character to the design, materials, details…windowless bedrooms, but, bleachers on the roof.
Why not just move the Cubs to Buffalo Grove.
I can’t stand the thought of razing any greystone.
Especially ones that were around when Wrigley was being built on it’s doorsteps. Disgusting!
Good point
I miss the parking meters
I get that these stately old structures have probably been abused beyond repair, but to replace them with a dated, doctors office looking building with brown panoramic windows is a true shame and missed opportunity for the neighborhood. We don’t need a Robert AM Stern building here, but something more attractive for the neighborhood would have been nice. The Ricketts would have put up something nicer.
“…abused beyond repair…” Beyond a foundation or structural failure, there’s no such animal; only a lack of will. I’ve done it and I’m not even in the business.
We are destroying character. By the time the fools who do this realize what they’ve done, it will be far too late.
Hate the way the new building looks in this location. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it.
This should have been a landmark district. Everything that was special about the place is gone.
Such a disappointment.
I agree.. this the heart of Wrigley not just a stadium but a feel a home .. memories tradition.. love.. guess it’s no comparison for GREED !!!
Destroying this type of history shouldn’t even be a question. This city is losing so much of it’s character ;(
its*
Why do all of these comments sound like NIMBYs? The buildings being demolished contained, at most, 12 units. The new build will have 29. How is that not a good thing? Do you want the city to remain the same in perpetuity? Things change, if you don’t like the architecture because it doesn’t have the same character as the buildings being removed, why can’t we talk about how to incentive the new builds to preserve that same character instead of disparaging progress altogether?
incentivize*
Because it’s a really poor place to build an ugly(in my opinion) and higher density building. There are better places for a higher density building like this to be built, in the Wrigleyville area. The Greystone buildings like this across the street from Wrigley Field really should be saved, and not torn down.
Everything is relative to the eye of the beholder. I myself love greystones and think they are vintage Chicago. However there’s two sides to the quarter. There’s no truer saying in real estate than that in order to sell what the buyer buys you need to look through the buyer’s eyes. So the question becomes whose eyes are we looking through. One being the historic greystone enthusiast willing to pay market value or two the investor looking to purchase at a premium price for the highest and best use of the property. Needless to say Wrigleyville is golden especially when it’s spitting distance to the second oldest historic baseball park in the nation. Business is business and in the business world $5 never tells $500 what to do.
It’s kind of like buying a Cubs ticket for a game. You either pay the price ( third highest tickets in baseball) or you can watch a game on the south side lol.
Congratulations to the buyers. The growth of Wrigleyville as in America as a whole will always be defined by the movers and shakers.
Buyers and sellers come in many types.
Not all are meant to be perfect matches. But be rest assured that every pot has a lid that fits you just need to find it.
I find myself a little at odds writing this comment especially since I’m born and raised a Sox fan. But I’ll finish with an old cub saying …. Maybe next year. Lol. Just a side note… Let’s not forget one of the best world series played…. And that was won by the Chicago White Sox in 2005… With only one loss in that series.
Hear hear
Weird boast coming off the worst season in baseball.
The Ricketts invasion (destruction) of Lakeview continues. You want a mall around the ballpark, move to Schaumburg.
There is no mall around nor near Winfield Stadium in Schaumburg.
3 vintage beauty’s go down
1 modern monstrosity goes up
High density
Out of place height …but according to the supporters of cheap ugly construction with grossly over priced asks this is….
Progress!
Fools.
This makes me sick. Such memories I have growing up in Chicago. Beautiful buildings. Im in my 90’s now still in Illinois.
Such a tragic shame to see these old, beautiful buildings torn down. Oh, the humanity!
History, Stories, Love.. the most iconic historical place that’s part of grand traditions 1899 isn’t this being preserved..
For Shame.. Shame Shame..
Special place for greed.. You will be sorry
I’m willing to bet the owners of those graystones really needed money and developers saw an opportunity to put up a new building. Bingo! The fates aligned — a buyer and sellers. Sometimes we just have to grin and bear inevitable change.
3627 N Sheffield, the middle bldg that used to have the TORCO sign, was for sale at $419,000 in 1990. Wrigley Baseball Group LLC bought it for $3.4M in 2023.
As someone who’s Wrigleyville childhood home no longer exists, it can be frustrating. But, who do you blame the sellers who want the money they can get in such a popular neighborhood or the developers?
As a developer I would design something that fits into the area and still provide more units. I love historic architecture and have spent many years developing historical homes that always sell before I am finished…
The Cubs need parking Why not put up parking garages Mr Ricketts?
Well at least i built to brand new buildings on sheffield out of an empty space and rehab 3637 into a modern building and got squeezed out to sell to the cubs. I had the best time taking care of them .. Will always have a place in my heart !! By the way i love the new building looks great.
If they want to build something new there, fine, but how about keeping the original facades of the buildings so it looks the same.
Greed and power! Best ingredients to destroy our democracy, our cities, towns and wild places. Our country! Carry on in the name of “progress”, a fool’s progress!
Horrible! Protect these beautiful old buildings. The replacement building looks like it could be anywhere in the US. Chicago is Chicago for a reason.
If those buildings were owner occupied and maintained, they wouldn’t be set for demolition, but when owners sell for big money, this is inevitable. Progress can’t always be stopped, but if they were named as historically important, the new structure would be very similar to the old ones. Many neighborhoods have preserved the past, with modern upgrades.
Hopefully while hitting those buildings with the wrecking ball.They swing the mf’er toward stupid wrigley field and destroy that sob.