The Chicago Plan Commission has approved plans for a new retail building at 107–109 East Oak Street in the Near North Side. Sitting near the intersection with North Michigan Avenue, the project will replace an already demolished structure at 107 Oak Street while also incorporating the existing three-story building at 109 Oak Street.
Site context map of 107-109 W Oak St by Koru Group
Site context view of 107-109 W Oak St by Koru Group
Efforts for the project are being led by the family behind Razny Jewelers, who occupy the building at 109 Oak Street, along with local architecture firm Koru Group, which is working on the design. The completed combined structure will rise four stories and 67 feet in height, with a small rooftop deck along the streetfront.
Floor plans of 107-109 W Oak St by Koru Group
The 8,480-square-foot building will be able to accommodate two retail tenants, the larger of which will be Razny. The two spaces center around a three-story atrium, with the smaller of the two set to occupy the western half of the ground and second floors. Razny will occupy the eastern half of the lower two levels, along with the entirety of the third floor.
Renderings of 107-109 W Oak St by Koru Group
Renderings of 107-109 W Oak St by Koru Group
The fourth and final floor will hold a large storage room, along with a new lounge with a bar and the aforementioned 788-square-foot deck for customers. The building will be framed by a stone ribbon with bronze-toned metal panels and angled windows along the lower floors, allowing for two storefront designs.
The $12 million development is expected to start construction in August and be completed in late 2027.
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My only issue with Oak St is that we continue to see a churn of tenants, demo and rebuilt, without any significant expansion. I’d like to see larger buildings on this stretch, but I’m pretty sure the NIMBY’s will do everything possible to block that from happening.
Why do we need larger scale right on Oak St when there are plenty of other large scale high rises around the Gold Coast and opportunities elsewhere? Human scale buildings on a very walkable street are a positive. There are ways of doing this with high rises of course (Vancouver does a really good job of this), but we don’t tend to do that well here in Chicago.
“Why do we need larger scale”
Increased density helps support local businesses.
Also, we are in the midst of a massive housing shortage.
This proposal could definitely be taller and include more livable units.
Does anyone even really live on this street?
I am all for mixed-use, but let’s be real: where are they putting people when each ground floor is stupid-expensive rent that is definitely paying more in taxes than most? Let the rich have their playgrounds in some pockets.
We would need to squeeze in mailrooms, lobbies, and pockets for utilities… We are better off winning the tower that will never happen in Old Town.
Given the context of Oak St. rather than Michigan Ave. I think this design works well.
Nicely scaled and detailed – should be a positive addition to Oak Street.