A look at the new developments approved today by the Chicago Plan Commission

This morning the Chicago Plan Commission came together for the first time in 2017 to vote on a number of new Planned Development applications and amendments. While the following zoning changes still require a vote by the full Chicago City Council to take effect, the Plan Commission provides an enlightening glimpse into some of the new developments in the pipeline.

Here’s what was granted the official thumbs up:

1800 W. Warner Avenue

↑ The first item on the agenda was an amendment to the Ravenswood Industrial Corridor submitted by Paudie O’Shea Development. The approved change from M1-2 Limited Manufacturing to RM4.5 Residential Multi-Unit zoning clears the path for five new three-story townhouses designed by Stoneberg + Gross Architects at 1800 W. Warner Avenue.

2035 N. Orleans Street

↑ The Commission approved one of the more interesting boutique condo plans to come down the pike in recent months at 2035 N. Orleans. The plan involves renovating and expanding an existing three-story 1930s brick- and limestone-clad garage into a new five-story, ten-unit condo building. The project comes from Clark Orleans Holdings headed by developers Robert Kroupa and Todd Buffington with design firm Sullivan Goulette & Wilson serving as architect.

1818 & 1720 N. Halsted Street

↑ A plan submitted by Laramar Group to build a pair of new four-story buildings on parking lots at 1818 and 1720 N. Halsted Street in Lincoln Park received the official OK from the Plan Commission this morning. The larger of the pair at 1720 will contain 14 rental units plus three parking spaces while its smaller sibling at 1818 will feature seven apartments and parking for four vehicles. Design work is handled by Chicago-based FitzGerald Associates Architects.

57-61 W. Erie Street

↑ After being deferred at the last two meetings, the third time was indeed a charm for the 12-story condo tower slated for 57-61 W. Erie. Designed by NORR for LG Development, the River North project will contain 10 high-end condos and parking for 10 vehicles. While the plan includes no ground floor retail, it appears one of the previously presented 11 parking stalls has been sacrificed for a sort of street-facing “terrarium” containing greenery. The project will contribute $250,000 to the mayor’s Neighborhood Opportunity Fund for a slight bump in density.

1115 W. Washington & 19-27 N. May

↑ A Planned Development (PD) application allowing a pair of near identical nine-story diagonally opposed condo buildings flanking the corner of Washington Boulevard and May Street gained the official bureaucratic OK. Designed by architecture firm Booth Hansen for developer Peerless Real Estate Investments, the West Loop project would deliver 28 dwelling units and 42 parking stalls in each of its two buildings.

801 W. Lake Street

↑ Previously proposed as an extended stay hotel development, the empty lot at the southwest corner of Lake and Halsted in Chicago’s Fulton Market will now be getting a 240-foot office tower designed by GREC. Project developers Shapack Partners and Focus Development plan to purchase an additional 4.5 points of Floor Area Ratio (FAR) by paying $2.39 million into the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund.

900 W. Washington Boulevard

↑ Officially dubbed 900 West, this approved 10-story project comes from developer TARIS Real Estate and architect Northworks. Replacing a single-story commercial building, the planned West Loop development would contain 22 multi-bedroom “family friendly” condos and 22 parking spaces. TARIS will contribute $263,000 to the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund.

210 N. Carpenter

↑ Envisioned as a “vendor village” for companies following McDonald’s corporate headquarters as it moves to the West Loop, the 12-story office building at 210 N. Carpenter was approved after being deferred at last month’s meeting. The project was designed by SCB for Sterling Bay and will contribute nearly $2 million to the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund. Replacing a vacant lot, the project was somewhat controversial for violating some nearby residents’ request for an unofficial neighborhood height limit when it was first proposed at 13 stories.

170 N. Green Street

↑ After receiving a substantial reworking which saw mass and height reduced along Green Street and increased along Lake, the 190-foot mixed-use development slated for Bridgford Foods’ long-time Fulton Market property was OK’d by the Chicago Plan Commission. The HPA-designed project will contain 322 rental units, new retail space, and 250 parking spaces. The Planned Development application also includes a separate 5-story new office building across the street at 171 N. Green.

• Chicago Plan Commission January agenda [City of Chcago]
• Five West Loop developments top Chicago Plan Commission’s January agenda [Curbed Chicago]
• Chicago Development News [Curbed Chicago]