Chicago City Council Approves Mixed-Use Development at 817 W Lake Street in West Loop

The Chicago City Council has approved a mixed-use development at 817 W Lake Street in the West Loop. Located at the intersection of N Green Street and W Lake Street, the subject property is made up of two lots that will be combined. These include the original Subarea B from the Shapack Partners 167 N Green Street project and the existing structure at 817 W Lake Street. Sancerre Realty is the developer behind the proposal.

817 W Lake Street. Rendering by Eckenhoff Saunders Architects

Designed by Eckenhoff Saunders Architects, the new construction will produce a seven-story mixed-use building. Expected to rise 109 feet, the project will meet the ground with approximately 7,600 square feet of retail space. The upper floors will provide about 10,000 square feet of office space per floor. The roof level will feature an indoor amenity space and an exterior amenity deck. Zero parking spaces will be included.

817 W Lake Street. Rendering by Eckenhoff Saunders Architects

The design takes inspiration from the history of the neighborhood, referencing the patterning of materials and how they are stacked. The materiality clearly expresses the ground-floor retail space via the dark metal, columns, and honed black granite. The rectilinear facade uses a large patterning that creates hierarchy in the facade expression with mullions and brick detailing. The brick and glass edifice will wrap three sides of the massing, including one facing a public alley. The service core of elevators and stairs will be placed along the eastern wall of the structure, adjacent to the 167 N Green Street project.

View of 817 W Lake Street. Rendering by Eckenhoff Saunders Architects

The development will improve the streetscape along N Green Street and W Lake Street, adding bike racks along each street as well as a Divvy station along W Lake Street. The building will exceed the energy code by 10 percent, exceed the stormwater ordinance by 25 percent, meet 100-year detention standards for lot-to-lot buildings, install natural landscapes, utilize green roofs, reduce indoor water use, is located in proximity to transit, provide bike parking, ensure 80 percent of construction waste diversion, and offer workforce development.

View of 817 W Lake Street. Rendering by Eckenhoff Saunders Architects

The developers plan to use the current site conditions for the existing BLVD Steakhouse in the interim, converting the empty lot into outdoor dining. Designed by Aria Group Architects, the new seating arrangements will offer bar seating, conventional dining, and cocktail lounge space.

Interim Use Plan for 817 W Lake Street. Drawing by Aria Group Architects

The developers are seeking to amend the existing Planned Development 1359 to add the parcel at 817 W Lake Street and rezone it from DS-3 to DX-7. Sancerre Realty will pay approximately $526,000 into the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund for a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) bonus, achieving a total FAR of 6.25.

With this final approval, the $15 million development can move forward with permitting and ultimately construction. The plan received approvals from the Chicago Plan Commission and the Zoning Committee earlier in May. Construction will break ground this fall or spring 2022 based on market conditions and securing a tenant. The duration of work would be between 14 and 16 months until completion.

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