Construction work continues on the mixed-use childhood education/residential development next to Horner Park in the Irving Park Community Area. A building permit addressed to 4340 North California Avenue was issued by the city in February 2025, allowing general contractor LG Group Construction to get to work, and they’re now halfway up.
Tiny Giants from Horner Park. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Exterior work is focused now on the second level of the four-story structure created by SEEK Design + Architecture. The first floor will hold the newest Tiny Giants Early Learning Center, with office space plus school and residential support services located on the second floor. At ground level, a 23-space surface parking lot will be accessed by a driveway connecting California Avenue to the alley behind the facility.
Rendering by SEEK Design + Architects
North façade rendering by SEEK Design + Architects
Ground-level floor plan by SEEK Design + Architecture
Second floor plan, including three of the residential units, by SEEK Design + Architecture
It is the two upper floors that give the building its mixed-use status. The third and fourth levels will hold 24 residential units, including one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom floor plans. The units will not be geared toward student living, as the students here will be quite young.
The development replaces a trio of now-demolished buildings along California Avenue, most notably the Ruby’s Cleaners facility on the corner with Montrose Avenue. All three were permitted for demolition in 2024, with work wrapping up in January of last year.
Parking entrance/exit on California Avenue. Photo by Daniel Schell
Looking north up California Avenue. Photo by Daniel Schell
Looking northeast from the alley, where the other end of the parking driveway will be located. Photo by Daniel Schell
From the alley, looking east. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Looking south across Montrose Avenue. Photo by Daniel Schell
The school and apartments are located across the street from Horner Park and its many recreational activities. For transit, the Route 78 CTA bus has stops on the intersection of Montrose and California. Four blocks south at the south end of the park are stops for the Route 80 bus at Irving Park Road. For north/south travel, just over half a mile east are stops for Route 49 and X49 buses at Western Avenue. The Francisco Brown Line elevated train station is just under one-half mile to the northwest.
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I love that mixed-use is the standard nowadays. 15 years ago they would have put in the education center and that’s it, but now we get 24 new units as well. Good stuff.