A new construction permit has been issued by the City of Chicago for the property at 2134 West 18th Place in the Pilsen neighborhood. Pending since its application date of February 25, 2025, the permission came through on January 7 and includes a reported cost of $600,000.
Site context, via Google Maps
2134 West 18th will be a two-story plus basement, six-unit building designed by architect Michael T. Ryan. Limited details in the permit include two on-slab surface parking spaces at the rear of the lot and perimeter fencing. Veterans Construction Group LLC is named as the general contractor. The low parking ratio would indicate these will be rental apartments.
An eye-catching single-story multi-unit residence built in 1906 will need to be razed to clear the site. Real estate records show the same family as property owners since purchasing the home in 2005. The buyer cited in that sale has the same last name as the property owner on the construction approval. A demolition permit has been pending in the Chicago Data Portal since November 2025, indicating that there may be some discussion about whether the building has historic value. If approved, Maxym Demolition of St. Charles is named as the demo contractor.
From the alley, via Google Street View. The garage is also to be demolished.
Nearby transit options, via Google Maps
2134 West 18th lies within a two-block walk of three CTA bus routes, including the #18 to the north at 18th Street, the #50 east at Damen Avenue, and the #49 to the west at Western Avenue. The Damen Pink Line elevated platform is about three blocks southeast, and the Western BNSF Metra station is less than three blocks northwest.
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Losing history sucks but 1 story so close to downtown and public transit being replaced by 6 units is what this city/country needs more of to make our cities livable for normal people again
While I agree, more housing is a good thing. Unfortunately the housing that is presently being built is all luxury and prices are out of reach for many. These luxury new homes are a plight on neighborhoods. They raise property values which in turn raise property taxes on long time locals.
What they need to build is a youth center or for the the youths in the neighborhood that don’t have any outlets other than joining gangs I was raised in that neighborhood those are proud Hispanic families that made that neighborhood what it is now they want to build build lexury apartments what happens to the residents
While this isn’t a huge loss, I wish they had found a way to incorporate atleast a portion of the facade into the new structure
To be clear, we don’t know whether any of the existing building will be saved and incorporated into the new construction. When a demolition permit is issued, it might note any elements to be saved. It would certainly be unusual, but let’s not assume anything just yet.
There’s nothing to save here other than some trim work above the front door and I seriously doubt the developer is going to bother saving it, let alone trying to incorporate it into the new structure. The rest is just brick – which may be required to be recycled – and either composite limestone or cement sills and caps which have no historic significance.
But again, I want to point out that this is the long-time home owner rebuilding, not a developer. Yeah, I’d be surprised if anything was saved, but maybe there’s something they like that they want to use in the new structure.
Why is everyone acting like the facade is beautiful and needs to be saved just because it’s old? It clearly tried and failed to tap into traditional architecture and is quite ugly. Many old single story store-fronts have beautiful facades that should incorporated into the mixed use residential developments that replace them. This is not one of them.
Yes, it’s not architecturally significant, but a little sandblasting and some tuckpointing and this could be a unique and quirky ground floor facade for the new building.
Sorry, KKG – but this home is a little charmer! Hope the facade may be included.
Sorry Leslie but KKG is right. It’s ugly. Also, a one story structure doesn’t architecturally fit in this neighborhood and it isn’t the best use of this land.
KKG, the house is more than the facade or design. It tells a story of a given area at a moment in time in Chicago. The developer will build something Obstrusive that doesn’t conform to rest of area
All buildings tell a story of a given area at a moment in time. What’s wrong with telling story about 2026?
Bingo.
As a big ol’ history geek — grew up in a drafty 19th-century house in Chicago, owned and loved an early-20th one in Oak Park, now back in the city in one of literally the oldest residences in the entire South Loop — it will always pain me to see a structure like the one above being replaced with new construction.
But: this great city’s overall situation is critical now and we must, truly must, be building new housing everywhere we can. With a strong bias towards density and a strong bias towards the existing transit networks. That is the strategic choice which, if we can do it for some years, can be the new foundation that makes possible positive change on a dozen other critical subjects.
I firmly believe that and remind myself of it every time I learn of another lovely old three-flat or something being replaced with modern boxes. Do I love the boxes, no. Also don’t love everything that’s due for replacement actually but anyway, never mind that. Eyes on the prize here — stay focused on what’s most critical for this city now and going forward.
The City of Chicago does not care about quality of life issues, even though the city representatives will profess a concern. In this instance, the plan is to increase the current 2 units to 6 units on the very same property. The city will allow over-crowding in a residential neighborhood to multiply the real estate tax numbers which means more revenue. The city doesn’t care about the impact on an already over-crowded neighborhood. It is about the money. The city gets the increased revenue while the neighborhood gets the shaft.
Overcrowded? How is Pilsen overcrowded? Because you can’t park your car in front of your house?
That’s funny. My neighbor has like 5 cars and none of them are parked in his garage!
Pilsen overcrowded?
Please…
PILSEN is overcrowded? In 2026? Come on now, I mean LOL