A demolition permit was issued by the City of Chicago on January 8 to tear down the three-story masonry building at 2355 West 63rd Street in Chicago Lawn. That permit will clear the site for the upcoming residential development from the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) that was granted permission for construction back in October. Taylor Excavating is named as the razing contractor, with a substantial reported cost of $331,775.
Rendering of 6301 South Western Avenue by K2 Studio
2355 West 63rd Street west façade, via Google Street View
Addressed as 6301 South Western Avenue, the subject parcel is located on the southeast corner of Western Avenue and 63rd Street, across the street from the 1924-built Marquette Bank at 6314 South Western that the city landmarked in October 2008. For the project, K2 Studio has designed a five-story, 44-unit building. Toro Construction Corporation of Orland Park is named as the general contractor.
Ground-level floor plan of 6301 South Western Avenue by K2 Studio
The 44 apartments will occupy the four upper levels, and all of them will be considered affordable units. The ground floor will include about 2,000 square feet of commercial space fronting Western Avenue, which, according to language in the permit, will be used by a single tenant, though a K2 Studio rendering shows it as two separate spaces. Also located on the first floor will be the residential lobby and vestibule, a large storage area, shared laundry facilities, a small gym, and a community room. There will be 11 surface parking spaces provided outside.
Upon City Council approval in February 2025, the projected completion date for the development was the third quarter of 2026. It is not clear if that goal can still be met with demolition just now permitted.
Site context, via Google Maps
Local bus options, via Google Maps
Local rail options, via Google Maps
Tenants of 6301 South Western will reside on an intersection with stops for east-west and north-south CTA buses. The Route 63 63rd Street bus can be used to connect with the Halsted Green Line about 2.2 miles east, and Route 49 and X49 buses can be used to connect with the Western Orange Line about 1.8 miles north.
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YAY! A historic building demo’d for another piece of crap. All in a part of the city that already has plenty of vacant land.
Way to go!
Just being old doesn’t inherently make something historic.
Hey Alex,
In fact it does make it historic. The old buildings are what make Chicago up, not this bland Ai looking building. Come up with something more creative! This building has nothing special that makes Chicago stand out continuing to be global city!
Neither did the building that is being demolished when it was originally constructed.
Sadly, it looks like decades of disinvestment by the previous owner left it in a state where it was more cost effective to replace with new construction than to restore it. Since it was always a background building, & did not stand out.
44 units to 11 parking spots is a pretty good ratio.
It would’ve been cool to keep some of that classic brick facade, but we have to take what we can get. Maybe this new building we spur other developers to fill in some of the surrounding parking lots.
I believe this is the same building that housed the office where I registered for the draft in 1958, wow!
I live in Milwaukee but one of my favorite parts of Chicago is the nice brick facades most of the buildings have, it is really sad that old building is getting torn down for more tacky looking development. Very few people like the look of modern apartments or see them as important to add, the old brick buildings help add character to all cities.