Rogers Park residents get first look at apartments replacing Heartland Cafe

Last week, developer Sam Goldman presented a proposal to redevelop the site of former Heartland Cafe in Rogers Park into a six-story rental building at the northwest corner of Glenwood and Lunt avenues. Residents viewed the plan at a meeting hosted by newly elected 49th Ward Alderman Maria Hadden, reported Chicago Block Club on Friday.

The proposal calls for 60 apartment units above 2,400 square feet of ground-floor retail space and a new community mural. Chicago’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO) requires ten percent affordable-rate apartments, and the developer plans to locate all six units on-site. According to Block Club, some residents at the meeting called for the developer to go beyond the bare minimum for affordable units.

Due to its proximity to the Morse Red Line stop, the project qualifies as a transit-oriented development (TOD) and will contain off-street parking for 60 bikes and 15 vehicles. The project is seeking a zoning change from the city. Current zoning allows for a slightly shorter building with up to 33 residential units.

For more than four decades, the Heartland Cafe served not only food but provided a space for community-based art, music, and political activism. Goodman purchased the property for $1.3 million shortly after the restaurant closed in December. The single-story structure was demolished this spring, reported Eater.

Alderman Hadden acknowledged the “sensitive” nature of the site and hasn’t ruled out a second public meeting for the project, according to Block Club. The elected official made “development without displacement” one of her top campaign issues and vowed not to take cash contributions from developers.

49th Ward Chicago