Affordable housing development in Logan Square wins alderman’s blessing

A plan to build a new seven-story, 100 percent affordable housing development next to the Logan Square Blue Line stop is advancing after 35th Ward Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa said he will recommend the project to City Hall’s Zoning Committee, Streetsblog Chicago reported Tuesday.

The elected official cited “overwhelming support” for the 2638 N. Emmett Street proposal, despite opposition from a Facebook group calling itself Logan Square Neighbors for Responsible Development. Ramirez-Rosa said his office collected feedback from over a thousand residents including 502 comment cards submitted at an April 24 public meeting.

Photo courtesy of the 35th Ward

The proposal from nonprofit developer Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation and Chicago-based Landon Bone Baker Architects, would replace a parking lot with 100 rental units offered at affordable rates to residents earning at or below 60 percent of the area median income. The transit-oriented plan also calls for 4,600 square feet of commercial or nonprofit retail space, 20 on-site parking spots, and a small public plaza.

Provided the project secures zoning and financing and the sale of the city-owned lot is approved, construction on 2638 N. Emmett Street could start as early as January and wrap up at the end of 2021, according to the Streetsblog report.

Landon Bone Baker Architects/35th Ward