Plans are moving forward for the mixed-use development at 5050 South Prairie Avenue in Grand Boulevard. Located on the corner of East 51st Street, the new structure will replace a pair of commercial buildings along with a vacant, city-owned lot. The effort is being led by KLY Development in partnership with the Rockford-based 1919 Architects.
Site reference map of 5050 Prairie by 1919 Architects
The development has been in the works for nearly five years, receiving zoning approval back in 2022. This past summer, we covered the city’s initial sign-off on partial funding for the project. Now, $4.3 million from the city’s Community Development Grant has been fully approved, along with the sale of the land to the developer for $1.
Site plan of 5050 Prairie by 1919 Architects
The new structure will rise four stories along the streetfront with a relatively simple design. The ground floor will include 4,400 square feet of commercial space at the main street corner, as well as a community room, a fitness room, several residential units, and a 29-car parking lot located off the rear alley.
Floor plans of 5050 Prairie by 1919 Architects
The upper floors will contain the remaining 49 residential units, consisting of three studios, 14 one-bedrooms, 31 two-bedrooms, and a single three-bedroom layout. Of these, five units will be designated as affordable, with the developer paying a fee in lieu of providing the rest. The remainder of the project’s $15.8 million cost will be privately financed. No timeline has been announced.
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Glad that this space is being utilized, would love for this to be 6-7 stories considering it is so close to green and red lines
I would agree but it would be risky because the neighborhood is still struggling and half empty, the green line doesn’t see much ridership, and the red line isn’t that close (20-25 min walk). I think this is a good density for this area and there’s a lot of space to build up when the area continues to see more investment and have more businesses to draw people in and maybe the green line will have more ridership, higher frequencies, newer trains etc. (also I really hope the green line will someday be re extended to Jackson Park like it used to because that would absolutely boost ridership with the park, museums, and university being there)
Wonderful seeing new investments in this cluster of Grand Boulevard. Reclaiming high density is key for corridors near the Green line route. Hoping that the construction timeframe (which is unknown) will add to the possibility for affordable commercial space, not the opposite.
I am glad this development is happening, but I still struggle with the logic of the stairs. If they used a more compact switchback design, they could add a bedroom to 6 of the 1-bedroom units, without impacting their FAR.
There are also plumbing stacks on exterior walls that could be fixed as part of that tweak.
Very good insight. Much appreciated!
Title is wrong.
This site is in Grand Boulevard, not Grand Crossing
Yea, and just barely. The southern end of the parcel looks across 51st Street at the start of the Washington Park community area.
Great news. The density here is perfect for what this area should be and it doesn’t look terrible.
FIVE YEARS!!!!
This one is on the developer trying to get funding. Getting the private funds in order likely required negotiating with the city to cover part of the bill. If this were entirely private, I bet construction would’ve been wrapped up, but market gonna market.
If they had bought the city land for more than a dollar, affordability requirements would probably have been lessened. If the city was holding all this hostage because of their agenda, which then impacted the rest of the timeline, then you can get the pitchforks.
$15.8m seems like a steep price for the project, but what do I know? Nice to see another vacant lot get filled in.
Looks like it’s closer to $20m+ after the city’s injection of funds.
It’s nice that they building apartments for people but people need help now people are struggling and pay check s are not getting bigger but rent food and other things you need are. And no one is helping, I work 40 hous a week and can’t afford desenct housing.