Permission has been granted to begin renovation work on The Mabel, the three-story former Maybelline headquarters building at 5920 North Ridge Avenue in Edgewater. At present, the 1928-built structure, designed by the Chicago firm of O’Connor & O’Connor, holds 52 dwelling units on its two upper floors, with commercial space at ground level and in the basement. The Chicago City Council approved the first-floor conversion in August of last year.
The permit allows for 17 new apartments on the first floor, along with structural demolition to open up the courtyard. The permit shows an application date of November 13 of last year, and was issued on May 7th with a $2 million reported cost.
The Mabel rendering via SEEK Design + Architecture
The Mabel rendering via SEEK Design + Architecture
Envoi Partners is leading the plan that will see The Mabel exchange the commercial space for apartments. Created by SEEK Design Architecture, plans include demolition of first-floor rooftop space in the center of the V-shaped building, opening up a larger outdoor space for the new residences. Their renderings show a bank in the single commercial space to remain on the corner of Clark Street and Ridge Avenue, while the new dwelling units line both street fronts. B&W Gym will maintain their tenancy in the basement level, where existing parking will remain, but the parking spaces on the ground level will be replaced by the courtyard. Macon Construction Group will perform general contractor duties.
Overhead view of The Mabel Exchange apartments, via Google Maps
The Mabel rendering via SEEK Design + Architecture
Residents of The Mabel Exchange apartments have access to the CTA’s Route 22 and 84 buses right outside their door. For suburban jaunts, the new Peterson/Ridge Metra station and its UPN trains is less than half a mile northwest at Peterson and Ravenswood Avenues. The closest elevated train is at the Thorndale Red Line platform a little more than half a mile east. The Bryn Mawr Red Line platform is less than three-quarters of a mile southeast, and the Route 84 bus can be used to cut down on walking time.
Nearby rail transit options, via Google Maps
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May this usher in a long era of creating courtyard developments.
Absolutely wonderful. Adaptive reuse in action! Compare to the windowless bedroom apartments that are being built seemingly everywhere now.
All for adaptive reuse but you should never paint a masonry building in Chicago. It destroys the brick beneath the paint, essentially signing the building’s death warrant. Masonry needs to breath. Otherwise, the paint traps moisture in the brick/stone, it freezes in winter, and rapidly erodes the masonry.