A look at the demolition of Uptown’s old Cuneo Hospital

Demolition on the former Cuneo Memorial Hospital complex in Uptown has been underway for several weeks now. Excavators started in December with the buildings at 750 and 810 W. Montrose but will eventually completely raze the modernist complex designed by Edo Belli. Despite a long preservation battle so save the structures, a plan to replace the complex with a new mixed-use development was approved by the city last summer.

Curbed Chicago Flickr pool/Nitram242

The proposal from JDL Development will redevelop the 3.4 acre site with a HPA-designed high-rise complex that will deliver 381 apartments, a 31,000-square-foot grocery store, 278 indoor parking spaces, and a refresh of the Clarendon Park field house.

Curbed Chicago Flickr pool/Nitram242

The plan drew complaints from Uptown residents over issues like density and traffic, but also over a controversial vote by the city council in June authorizing nearly $16 million in tax increment financing (TIF) from the City of Chicago. Despite receiving the assistance, developer JDL revealed that it would only provide 3 percent of the required 10 percent affordable housing units on site and would make up the difference by paying into the Chicago’s Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund.

Curbed Chicago Flickr pool/Nitram242

Curbed Chicago Flickr pool/Nitram242

Curbed Chicago Flickr pool/Nitram242

• One final look at Cuneo Hospital before its demolition [Curbed Chicago]
• Uptown’s Maryville buildings are being cleared for planned high-rise [Curbed Chicago]
• City Council Approves $15.8M TIF Subsidy for Maryville Redevelopment in Uptown [Curbed Chicago]