Plans are finally progressing for the commercial redevelopment of the former Grace’s Furniture building at 2618 North Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square. The project has been in the works for over six years, with our last update coming back in 2022 as the developers pivoted from a hotel to a large-format gym before going dormant.
Image of 2618 N Milwaukee Avenue via JLL
The five-story structure was built in 1914 and sits right across the street from the neighborhood’s namesake square, which recently completed a multi-year transformation. The building has sat vacant since 2010 and had its east facade demolished in 2017, a few years before developers Blue Star Properties and Marc Realty purchased the site.
PREVIOUS iterations of 2618 N Milwaukee Ave by K2 Studio
After stalling on the hotel proposal, the team pivoted to the current plans for a large gym under the Chicago Athletic Clubs brand on the upper floors. This will be complemented by a restaurant and cafe space on the ground floor. The 80,000-square-foot building would have its eastern facade rebuilt with larger windows, its historic facade repaired, and its neon marquee restored.
Image of 2618 N Milwaukee Avenue via JLL
Additionally, the team has confirmed a deal to assist in preserving the Paseo Prairie Community Garden adjacent to the property, while also providing volunteers with permanent water access, per Block Club. The $11 million project will be partially funded by a now-approved $3 million Community Development grant from the city, along with additional private loans.
Construction is set to commence this fall after the team renews its permits, with a late 2027 completion date.
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That’s an awful lot of square footage for a gym for a low population neighborhood like Logan Square. There’s No parking (it’s all permit) so what’s going to be the draw from outside the ‘hood, even though it’s at an el stop? No pool. Room height too low for a court. Hope the developers have a plan B.
According to the US Census more than 75,000 residents live in the Logan Square Neighborhood.
Logan Square proper is quite large – the area around Grace furniture isn’t, and it’s full of SFHs and 2 and 3 flats, meaning this has to be a desirable destination in order to attract patrons,
Since the building has 2 addresses – 2616-18 N. Milwaukee Ave – I can assume it’s at least 50 feet wide. Minimum 125′ deep and 5 floors make this space 31,250 square feet. Subtract the 1st floor for a cafe leaving 25,000 sqft for a gym. No pool, no courts, lousy parking. What’s the attraction?
The phrase “low population neighborhood like Logan Square” is just laughably false when you compare its density to the areas around the other Chicago Athletic Club locations of similar size like their Bucktown & Lincoln Park buildings. Which similarly are right next to CTA stations.
I live here. That’s my station. It’s all 2-flats, 3-flats and SFHs. There’s hardly any strip malls to tear down for TODs. The population is dropping as those apts get turned into SFHs because of the gentrification.
There’s a Y (with a pool) by the 606, a couple of Planet Fitness’s and some smaller storefront places. This building is huge. I can’t see every floor used as a gym. Sticker parking for blocks around the station.
No courts, no pool, no parking. Now that’s laughable.
“Sticker parking for blocks around the station.”
Can you explain this one? There is no sticker parking on Milwaukee avenue. There wasn’t sticker parking on Kedzie when I lived there. I know plenty of blocks on Logan that are not sticker pricing.
Stickered parking goes all the way west to Kimball. Don’t know about the other directions but it’s probably just as far.
Those spaces on Milwaukee are metered. Depending on time of day they’re are often filled. Plus nothing like a trip to the gym and having to do round in circles looking for parking or putting out for $ LAV. I guess, walking 3-4 block to the gym could be part of your exercise regiment – a warm-up.
Planet Fitness has their own lots.
No real parking at Lincoln Park Athletic Club (they rent a parking lot of a nearby church as an option a block away but that deal could go away at any time), just a few spots at Wicker Park Athletic Club, and zero parking at Bucktown Athletic Club. This building looks very simmilar to Bucktown AC, which seems successful. The majority of members come right before or right after work – so these gyms need to handle the swells of people. In general they just want nice workout equipment and locker rooms, at all gyms the pools and courts are underused. This seems to match CACs other buildings, hopefully they are successful.
Low population neighborhood? Heh…per the Census Bureau’s 2023 annual estimates Logan Square has the 7th-largest population of Chicago’s 77 official community areas, and is 10th in population density (residents per square mile).
Like I said, I live here. I joke that I feel like I live in the ‘burbs – If I had a car I’d be able to park it in front of my house.
I’m sorry but you act like there is no other way to get places in Chicago than in a private car that one needs to park. Start your exercise early and walk, bike, take transit, or even an Uber to the gym. Thinking outside the car produces the most vibrant and financially productive version or Chicago.
RESTORE THE ALOHA BILLBOARD
We love our trans racial YT actors
One would think this site would have been earmarked for a TOD…