Panoptic Group has received permission from the City of Chicago to redevelop the property next to their West Town office. Using the address of 536 North Western Avenue, a permit issued on September 1 calls for a five-story building with nine dwelling units and retail space on the first floor. Panoptic’s headquarters is at 524 North Western, right next door.
Site context of 526-536 North Western Avenue, via Google Maps
526-536 North Western Avenue, via Google Maps
Hanna Architects designed the new structure, which will replace a two-story brick building that formerly housed Rapid Circular Press. The permit’s application start date is June 18, and it came through after 75 days with a reported cost of $2,686,515. Panoptic Group will be their own general contractor. Specs for the project call for a nine-car garage on the first floor with a deck over a portion of the garage on the second level. The fifth floor will be topped with a roof deck, with front decks on the second, third, and fourth floors and rear balconies on floors three and four. The sprinklered building will have an elevator. Nine bicycle spaces and a trash storage area will be included on the first floor with the garage and retail space.
No demolition permit has yet been issued to raze the existing structure, and a data portal search for a pending permit is unsuccessful since recent changes to the portal. But with a construction permit in hand, demo should surely soon follow.
Another Panoptic/Hanna collab just up the street at 2072 North Western Avenue under construction in November 2025. Photo by Daniel Schell
Local transit options, via Google Maps
It is very likely that the nine new units will be offered as for-sale condominiums. While one garage space will be available per condo, residents will also find access to CTA service right outside their doors via Route 9 and X9 buses going north-south and Route 65 going east-west at the intersection of Western and Grand Avenues. The Western buses can be used to connect with the Western Avenue Metra station and its MD-N, MD-W, and NCS trains less than two blocks south. Two blocks farther south is Lake Street; a four-block walk east or west from there leads to the Damen and California Green Line platforms, respectively.
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that’s the old illegal housing shelter building. Where did all of those people go?
Can’t wait for another plastic painted cinder block building.
Their project 2072 N Western turned out very nice, and units sold very quickly. No “plastic painted cinder blooks” in sight.
I think you forgot to look at a couple sides of that building. Take a walk down the alley!
I dont walk down alleys
I live across the street and I can’t wait for more neighbors. It is a great area with very easy access to the Loop. I hope the two empty lots on the west side of the Grand/Western intersection are developed soon.
Lego construction