The Chicago City Council has approved the mixed-use redevelopment of the historic fireproof warehouse at 3240 West Lawrence Avenue in Albany Park. Sitting west of the intersection with North Sawyer Avenue, we last covered the project in February when it received support from the local alderwoman for its rezoning.
Site context map of 3740 W Lawrence Ave via Google Maps
Now, local developer APZ Holdings LLC has received the last necessary approval to move forward with the project designed by Red Architects. The 1916-built structure rises five stories in height and is clad in a mix of red brick, decorative terracotta accents, and small windows along Lawrence. It currently holds small retail storefronts on the ground floor.
Plans for the ground floor call for a small residential entrance and lobby, along with the preservation of 3,000 square feet of retail space on the streetfront. The remainder of the building will hold a total of 26 residential units, of which five will be considered affordable. Units will be made up of 12 one-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom layouts.
Floor plans of W Lawrence Ave via Google Maps
To accommodate residential uses, the building will punch larger windows along the streetfront and rear facade. At the moment, no further information is known on the budget or financing status of the project. However, the developers are now free to apply for permits, with the new zoning designation having been approved, though no timeline has been announced.
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Waiting for the guy who always comments on bedrooms without windows….
LOL!
Where is that guy? He’s probably asleep, doesn’t have a window in his bedroom so can’t tell that it’s morning yet
I was boarding a flight to San Francisco. I noted two small light wells. Yes, more apartments with bedrooms with no windows. I wake up with the sun hitting the buildings along the Hudson reflecting back to NYC. Creepy and against code to not provide adequate light/air. You moles disagree. You can live there!
That’s what housing choice is all about!
Did y’all skip this part, “To accommodate residential uses, the building will punch larger windows along the streetfront and rear facade.”?
Larger than the tiny windows? Of course, but there are still windowless bedrooms without natural light or air.
“Should be denser”
“Should be a super-tall, from a NYC architect”
Glad to see the building is preserved. Lawrence Ave has a lot of beautiful early 20th century terra cotta buildings. Would be a shame if we lost them.
Very nice!
Good stuff. N to say this is the most handsome old building in the city or even that neighborhood but, I still have a soft spot for adaptive reuse.
(Photo caption has a typo in the street address)
Ditto. There is/was an extremely similar storage building on Broadway near Devon. That owner sadly decided adaptive reuse required the demolition of the entire brick/limestone/terra cotta facade and replaced it with steel panels and floor to ceiling glass. It sat empty for a decade until Loyola bought it and they just installed a modern brick facade.
I think that increasing the window size should make the building look much more attractive. Those tiny windows on Lawrence gave it odd proportions.