A construction permit was issued on August 24 to build a five-story, 16-unit residential building at 4943 North Damen Avenue in the Ravenswood neighborhood. The new development replaces a single-story commercial structure most recently known for Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits and Over Easy breakfast and brunch spot. Monday’s fresh permit shows an application start date of January 29, coming through the portal after a 207-day wait with a reported cost of $1.9 million.
Rendering of 4943 North Damen by Red Architects
4943 North Damen Avenue, pre-demolition, 02/24/2026. Photo by Daniel Schell
The new project will include ground-floor commercial space to replace what was in the former building. Available site plans mark the space as a single retail unit, but the permit specifies two retail spaces. There will be an attached garage with one parking space for each dwelling unit, anticipated to be for-sale condos, and storage for 20 bicycles. A rooftop deck is designated as “public” signifying that it will be available for use by all residents of the building.
The Northbrook, IL entity of 926 Oak Inc is named as the property owner/developer, with Archway Builders, Inc (also of Northbrook) handling general contracting duties. Red Architects is the architect of record. Builder Luxury was the demolition contractor for the old building, receiving a permit to knock it down on February 18 at a reported cost of $30,000. That work was complete as of our last site visit in April.
4/26/2026. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
On the south side of the subject parcel is 4939 North Damen, another condo building erected by Archway Builders and Red Architects. And to the north is 4949-4953, another vintage one-story commercial building that was badly damaged by a fire in April of last year. That structure, however, got a renovation permit instead of a demo permit.
4939 North Damen Avenue. Photo by Daniel Schell
4949 North Damen in April, still awaiting fire restoration. Photo by Daniel Schell
Site context of 4943 North Damen Avenue, via Google Maps
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Looking at the lot size and the ground level having retail, lobby, etc I’m trying to understand how they are going to fit 20 parking spaces