New 12-story apartment complex breaks ground in Oak Park

Located just west of Chicago, the village of Oak Park, Illinois, is ready to welcome yet another dense high-rise development to its downtown district. According to Oak Leaves/Chicago Tribune, developer Lincoln Property Company has broken ground on a new 12-story mixed-use building at the southeast corner of Harlem Avenue and South Boulevard. Approved by Oak Park officials this spring, the project replaces a pair of village-owned parking lots near both the CTA and Metra rail stops. Talks to redevelop the site started as early as 2013.

Designed by CallisonRTKL, the $60 million Harlem and South development will feature 10,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space, a rather large 400-car garage, and 263 rental apartment units. The project will include five affordable rate units on site and also calls for the developer to contribute to Oak Park’s affordable housing fund.

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Downtown Oak Park has experienced an unprecedented level of new high-rise construction in recent years led by projects such as the 21-story Vantage Oak Park apartment tower and the 20-story Oak Park Station project now known as The Emerson. Meanwhile, an 18-story mixed-use project from developer Albion Residential at 1000 Lake Street is navigating the village’s approvals process.

• Groundbreaking of South Boulevard tower continues downtown Oak Park growth [Tribune Pioneer Press]
• Downtown Oak Park is on the Rise [Curbed Chicago]
• Oak Park archive [Curbed Chicago]