Caisson work is complete, and foundation work is underway, at 1880 North Milwaukee Avenue in Bucktown. Peerless Development is erecting a five-story, 44-unit residential building here that was approved by the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals back in January of last year.

Rendering of 1880 North Milwaukee Avenue by SPACE Architects + Planners

Groundbreaking in October, via Macon Construction Group
SPACE Architects + Planners created the plans for the new development, and Macon Construction Group is on the build as the general contractor. They received a caisson permit in August of last year, then held a groundbreaking ceremony in October. Permission for the full building came through on November 5, 2024.

The construction site spans 1870 through 1888 North Milwaukee Avenue. Photo by Daniel Schell

According to a LinkedIn post from Precision Excavation, this is a water retention system. Photo by Daniel Schell

Looking south from the alley. Photo by Daniel Schell
1880 North Milwaukee will contain studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units on the four upper floors. The ground level will include a parking garage with 22 spaces and about 3,500 square feet of retail space, as well as storage for 44 bicycles. Residents will all have access to a rooftop deck, and select units will include private balconies. Peerless Development plans to welcome their first tenants in 2026.

Photo by Daniel Schell

North end of the construction site. Photo by Daniel Schell

South end of the construction site. Photo by Daniel Schell

From the alley. Photo by Daniel Schell
The residences replace a long-vacant lot next to the Blue Line elevated tracks, but will block a large mural painted on the south façade of 1890 North Milwaukee next door, titled “Delight” and completed in fall 2020 by muralist Key Detail.

“Delight,” a 2020 mural by artist Key Detail, will be obscured by the new development. Photo by Daniel Schell

An outbound Blue Line train passes the mural at 1980 North Milwaukee as it pulls into the Western station. Photo by Daniel Schell

Photo by Daniel Schell
Tenants of 1880 North Milwaukee will reside one block from the Western Blue Line elevated platform, while also having access to the Route 56 Milwaukee bus right outside their door. Routes 49 and X49 are also available at the Blue Line entrance, and a two-block walk north leads to stops for Route 73 buses at Armitage Avenue.
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I know we all love skyscrapers here – but this 5 story mixed use building fills in a bad gap in a nice area and should make for a cohesive environment down Milwaukee here. That said, I wouldn’t have minded 6-7 stories 🙂
Agreed! So glad we’re breaking the 4-story standard. Eastern views for the 5th floor and rooftop should be nice.
What a bland, characterless building, that shows a shameful lack of imagination and creativity by the both the architect and developer. At least they should be required to repaint the “Delight” mural on the site of the new building. It does not live up to the standards of Chicago’s architectural heritage and makes the city blander vs. better.
It’s a dirt lot. This is YIMBY, and this is a perfectly fine development. This isn’t a super tall so maybe simma down?