The condo building at the corner of Magnolia and Wilson has been trying to rent out the retail section on the Wilson side (1217 W. Wilson) for quite some time now. We have counted at least 3 different realtors' names on the building. It has changed again and this time we want to draw attention to this great location. The property is listed with Jennifer Kaufman who can be reached at 312-624-7748. The actual listing can be found on the Zifkin Realty website here, by searching for ID number 1575383. We think this area needs a Fed-Ex/Kinkos but we suppose that's up for debate. We trust our TWO Uptown business promoting entities are hard at work to bring businesses to one of the at least 10 vacant storefronts on this stretch of Wilson.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
A Vacant Storefront Showcase Revisited
The condo building at the corner of Magnolia and Wilson has been trying to rent out the retail section on the Wilson side (1217 W. Wilson) for quite some time now. We have counted at least 3 different realtors' names on the building. It has changed again and this time we want to draw attention to this great location. The property is listed with Jennifer Kaufman who can be reached at 312-624-7748. The actual listing can be found on the Zifkin Realty website here, by searching for ID number 1575383. We think this area needs a Fed-Ex/Kinkos but we suppose that's up for debate. We trust our TWO Uptown business promoting entities are hard at work to bring businesses to one of the at least 10 vacant storefronts on this stretch of Wilson.
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Someone please rent this space! I have walked by this empty building for 2 years. I wonder if anyone who lives in this building could give an insight as to what is going on.
ReplyDeleteThe condo association might have somethingin their bylaws that prevents certain businesses from opening there - i.e. food, nail salon, etc.. - any place that would emit odors. But yes, a Kinkos would be awesome, especially with a college directly to the east. I am sure the Uptown business groups and our alderman would fully support that! My personal pick though would be a Potbelly's - why there isn't one in this ward floors me...
ReplyDeleteThe condo association has turned away a few different business. A seven Eleven was all set to go there, but the Condo Association did not want a 24-hour business. Things are always more complicated than they appear on the surface.
ReplyDeleteWe also think a "Hair Cuttery" or "SuperCuts" would do well in this location. Hint, hint Jennifer Kaufman.
ReplyDeleteHow about a seedy internet cafe/convenient store where drug dealers, pedophiles, and the like can take care of business? Oh wait, that is across the street.
ReplyDeleteYou know its sad that wasn't descriptive enough for me to tell which, seedy place you were talking about.
ReplyDeleteI'm an owner in that building and yes there is land-use agreement that prohibits 24-hour operations, alcohol sales, and food preparation among other things in that space. The board has approached the realtor with the idea of a FedEx/Kinkos several times to no avail.
ReplyDeleteAh that agreement bites. A Chipotle or maybe a Soupbox would've been awesome. Kinko's a good, practical idea though.
ReplyDeleteWhy build retail space if you're not going to allow most types of businesses in there? I did notice notice the new realtor and hoping they can bring something in. There is also the issue of parking.
ReplyDeleteThey build retail because Shiller requires it.
ReplyDeleteAnd the economy is not real good right now contrary to what you all might think.
Really, for once its hard to blame Schiller for "forcing" commercial space in this building. The property is currently zoned B3-3 together with all of the property facing on Wilson from about 1/2 block west of this building all the way to Broadway (with the exception of the college).
ReplyDeleteIts pretty typical for arterial streets in Chicago (and Wilson counts as one) to be zoned for business.
Now, what the developer was thinking when he allowed the commercial space to be that restricted is another matter. I know for a fact of many similar buildings that got by with looser restrictions and had no problem selling the condo units (usually people are mostly concered with liquor sales (bar, convenience store, etc).
These restrictions are not bad if you live in the building. Would you want nail salon fumes or the smell of a pungent food spice permiating your place of residency? You can't blame the residents for having restrictions.
ReplyDeletenot to mention the rodents a food space attracts
ReplyDeleteI don't live in the building but if I did I would far rather a pot belly or coffee house be in there than nothing at all. The building with the Julius Meinl on Southport and Addison comes to mind. Its a small condo building with a coffee shop below and I would think its a huge asset to the owners of that building. It looks bad when you have a brand new building with a space that has never been occupied. This is over 2 years!
ReplyDeleteThe problem w/ the 7 -11 was that they wanted 24 hours AND alcohol sales - alcohol sales on this stretch at all hours of the night aren't a good idea. (if you live around here, i'm sure you understand).
ReplyDeleteAlso - the restrictions this building has on the retail in the building are typical of other condo buildings - i.e. they are not unusual. SO, contrary to what an earlier anonymous poster said, most businesses ARE allowed in this space, there are only a few restrictions. And this isn't why the retail hasn't been rented. First, there was a bank that the developer had signed a deal w/ that was going to come in, but then that bank got bought by another bank and the deal fell through(forgot name of bank it has been so long) , then the 7-11 24 hour alcohol thing, then white hen wanted to come in with out 24 hour alcohol which was fine and the building I believe was happy about (at least to a degree) and it was moving forward, but then white hen was bought by 7-11 and the deal fell through. SO, in a nut shell... there have ALMOST been a number of tenants in the building, but all fell through. Doesn't help that this stretch has a lot of empty storefronts and everything that opens fails. Saw the julius meinl, chipotle, potbelly , fed ex suggestions - all great ideas and I believe some of these companies have been contacted for the space but none are interested at this time.
happy holidays! here's to a great 2008 for uptown!
Cry me a river about store fronts being empty.
ReplyDeleteI live in Uptown and frankly I don't care how many vacant store fronts there are. Better than flop houses, currency exchanges or run down corner stores.
When the Uptown improves and the market gets better I am sure these store fronts will rent.
Also maybe the landlords are asking too much money you can't charge none chain stores run by small business people the same you can 711 etc.
Maybe JC can rent a space there for his campaign.
Cry me a river about store fronts being empty.
ReplyDeleteI live in Uptown and frankly I don't care how many vacant store fronts there are. Better than flop houses, currency exchanges or run down corner stores.
That has to be one of the dumbest things I've read since JP Paulus last commented on this blog.
For the past 40 or more years, run down buildings, empty storefronts, and flophouses have been the case in Uptown. Of course, there are a few exceptions. So you're saying you support the status quo and everything in the hood is just fine.
Perhaps you should be commenting on Helen's blog and supporting her, telling her what a great job she's doing with regard to attracting businesses and decent jobs to the ward.
Oh, wait. Helen's blog doesn't allow any comments. Our mistake.
I don't support Helen at all but I don't think Uptowns problems are 100 percent her fault.
ReplyDeleteAlso I don't think this is going to be solved over night.
And I don't JC would get these store fronts all filled up by now or in the next 12 years either.
The only business that really make it are 711's, food establishments and bars.
How many more real estate offices do we need or methadone clinics.
And yes I posted the cry me a river.
Well it is sad that there are so many store fronts that are empty but I can't blame those that spend a lot of money on a place to live wanting to have an say in who rents the space in the building. I think the fact that the building has a condo board that thinks about these problems is just want we want in the neighborhood. I see this as an example of being a very good neighbor. Thanks for looking out for the rest of us.
ReplyDelete