Concrete masonry units for the stair and elevator cores have risen on the construction site for Lawrence Gateway, the 41-unit residential property from MAS Ventures and architecture firm Wight & Company. Both cores, one for the stairway on the east edge of the building and one for the combination stairway/elevator in the center of the development, are topped out. Now general contractor LG Group is using cinder blocks to form the first level of the five-story structure.
Rendering of Lawrence Gateway by Wight & Company
Rendering of Lawrence Gateway by Wight & Company
Site plan by Wight & Company. The “no-build area” is the result of below-grade infrastructure.
The combined elevator/stairway core (left) and east stairway core (right). Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Lawrence Gateway, addressed as 2923 West Lawrence Avenue in Albany Park, was permitted for construction in September of last year, 15 months after its application start date. A permit revision is December allowed an increase in unit count from 40 to 41, and authorized the relocation of surface parking spaces. With those dwelling units comes parking for 19 cars and 41 bicycles. The ground floor will include approximately 7,600 square feet of retail space.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
From North Manor Avenue, just southwest of the construction site. Photo by Daniel Schell
The elevator/stair core. Photo by Daniel Schell
The east stairway core. Photo by Daniel Schell
An express permit issued in November changed the ownership name from North Branch River Properties LLC to Manor On The River LLC, though both entities use the physical address of the building next door at 2901 West Lawrence. However, Manor on the River, perhaps a nod to the Ravenswood Manor neighborhood and/or the building’s proximity to the intersection with North Manor Avenue, is now used for the development’s official website, acknowledged by a banner displayed on the construction fence.
Manor on the River. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
From the rear alley. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
The beginnings of the south wall. Photo by Daniel Schell
Construction continues across Lawrence Avenue for Gateway River Plaza. Photo by Daniel Schell
Rental apartments will consist of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom floor plans ranging in size from 511 to 1,047 square feet, and all will be within the four upper floors. Eight units are designated as affordable apartments. MAS Ventures anticipates opening in the first quarter of 2027, though the banner on site claims completion by the end of this year.
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
This will be such a great improvement for the area!
A small heads up – cinder block is an old misnomer. Cinder may have been used at some time in the past but never has been in my 60 year architectural career.
It is concrete block.
And they’ll always be cinder blocks to me.
If it looks anything like the rendering this is going to be absolutely transformative for the Lawrence corridor. Right now Lincoln Square and Albany park feel like two different planets but part of that is the ~500-foot gap represented by the river and this site. This building, along with the upgrades to the Ronan Park gateway, are going to be the connective tissue between them.