A permit has been issued by the City of Chicago to erect a three-unit residential building with ground-floor commercial space at 545 West 31st Street in Bridgeport. Granted on October 15, the permit shows an application date of August 5 and a reported cost of $1.72 million, seemingly high for such a project.
Site context, via Google Maps
The development team of owner Hongzhen Huang and architect of record Zhaochen Wang have a second similar permit pending for the adjacent parcel at 541 West 3st. At 545 West 31st, they’re building a four-story plus basement structure with three dwelling units on the upper levels. One commercial unit will occupy the ground floor and basement level, according to verbiage in the permit. Noble Builders Construction is signed on as the general contractor.
On the lot to the east at 541 West 31st, a pending permit as of September 24 calls for three more dwelling units over a commercial space, but does not specify the story count. A basement will be included, as will be three surface parking spaces. Considering all three members of the team are back on board for the second build, it is presumed the specs here will be the same as they are with the first building.
From the alley, before West 31st (at right) was demolished. Image via Google Street View
The construction site sits mid-block on 31st Street between Parnell Avenue and Wallace Street. An existing single-story commercial building at 545 West 31st will require a demolition permit to clear the lot. Next door, 541 is a vacant space after an emergency demolition permit issued on December 2, 2021 razed a two-story masonry structure with a fantastic cornice following a fire two months prior.
541 (left) pre-fire and 545 West 31st Street, via Google Street View
Cornice of the now-demolished West 31st Street, via Google Street View
545 West 31st Street is located near the intersection of 31st and Wallace Avenue, where CTA Route 31 and 44 buses make stops. Four blocks west are stops for Route 8 Halsted buses, which can be used to connect with the Halsted Orange Line platform a mile northwest. Stations for the 35th Red Line, 35-Bronzeville-IIT Green Line, and the 35th Street – Lou Jones Rock Island Metra line are all about a mile or so to the southeast near the Dan Ryan Expressway.
Nearby bus stops, via Google Maps
Closest rail options, via Google Maps
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Nice combination of retail space and living space, looking forward to it.
It’s a bummer that fantastic cornice couldn’t be salvaged, but at least it won’t be an empty lot anymore.
Now if we can just fill in that parking lot directly across the street!