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| Sarah's on Sunnyside, Clarendon & Sunnyside (Perkins & Will) |
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| Site plan showing Sarah's on Sunnyside and 2 other possible additions to the vacant lot (city of Chicago) |
The vacant lot is large and the plans mentions a potential future 11 story development directly to the south. No word on whether this would be an addition to the Sarah's on Sunnyside or completely separate. The southernmost part of the lot also has space for another "potential development" not in the project scope.
Per reader JF's email to us:
"While I personally hate the empty parking lot and my partner and I support what Sarah's Circle does, I can't believe that they are building such a tiny building here in a prime lakefront spot. Was there no other developer available or interested in the lot? We desperately need density and housing and this is not the best way to use a lot like this. And why is every Sarah's Circle building in Uptown?"
That's a good question. There is no doubt this is a prime piece of real estate and, given there were proposals for this lot in the past that were much taller and a combination of market rate and affordable, we would have loved to see something taller, denser and more architecturally significant.
This is already on the agenda for the city's plan commission, so it's unclear whether local block clubs or residents have had a say in the matter. Also no information has been provided on how the project is being funded.
Although this has been percolating since October, so far nothing mentioned on Ald. Clay's website about the proposed development. We're sure people might disagree with this use of the lot, so hopefully there will be a public meeting!
I'm not sure I understand the huge concern here, but there is a public meeting that has been announced for those who want to be heard.
ReplyDeleteThursday, January 22, 2026
5:30 PM
Sarah’s on Lakeside, 4838 N. Sheridan
Regardless of the tenant, I don’t think the argument for wanting more residential density right at the lakefront makes a lot of sense in this conversation — replacing everything with mid and high rises is not the right vibe for Uptown, and ruins the neighborhood feel that we have going for us.
ReplyDeleteWe’re going from a poorly maintained parking lot to a 7 story building, plus whatever else ends up in other portion of the lot. That seems like a win to me.
What a pathic disaster this is. Why so much shelter concentration by Sarah circle all over uptown? Why is it only for women? Is isn't that ender discrimination? Aren't men also need housing? Why is Sarah Circle allowed to do this. If it were for MEN only , some feminist group would be up in arms screaming sex discrimination. Sarah's Circle got million$ from the sale of Weiss Hospital parking lot to developers to building that apartment building, but they used that money to discriminate against men for housing needs.
ReplyDeleteYou need psychiatric help ASAP.
DeleteBut the men do have their own housing. Do you see all the old hotels in the neighborhood? Those are men only affordable studio shared facility housing apartments.Sarahs Circle is for Single Mothers. If their vision was to help mothers in need then that’s what they built. Built based on their dream. Now if you think and said out loud men need housing too then go right ahead and create that business because that is your passion. We create based on our passion, needs and experiences. And Sarah’s Cirle I feel as a single mother (not affiliated with) was created on pure experience and passion.
DeleteNo. This lot deserves a high density project that won’t drive down property values. Build it in a different neighborhood. Can someone start a petition?
ReplyDeleteSure - YOU can! Let us know when you do so. :-)
DeleteSay goodbye to Trader Joes next door... Apparently no one has ever learned from history that concentrating services and poverty only leads to more poverty.
ReplyDeleteWe need more DENSITY! Density is the blood of a city! Housing, housing, housing, housing! Not wimpy 7 story building. Build another 20+ story high-rise. Build two 20+ story high-rises on this lot! This is the lake front after all, housing is in demand and a plot like this shall demand density! If you want a wimpy 7 story building, build it westward!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteSo I went to the meeting tonight where Sara's presented the proposal with their attorney and Perkins Will the architects with details on the building and their services. The aldercritter was there in full spin mode with her well rehearsed shuck and jive show, I asked a few pointed questions of the the Sara's circle director about how all this is going to be paid for and whether the property would return to the property tax roles. The answers were...maybe. It sounds like it will be a complicated financial deal but that there will be some left over Maryville Tiff money among other sources. It could not get built otherwise. No questions were taken about whether Sara's is a good neighbor, but one person did speak up about concentration of social services, which the aldercritter tried to poo poo away. They do have plans to develop the entire plot of land and will buy it outright from the Sisters who ran the Maryville site but it sounds like most of the land will not contribute to the city's property tax roles, unlike what happened when the church at Sunnyside and Hazel was torn down and market rate housing built during Cappleman's administration. Although it was presented as fait accompli with lot's of Aldercritter spin about how "transparent" she is (yeah, right) but they did hint that financing for a project of this scale is challenging right now with interest rates and an uncertain economic situation.
You are a racist.
DeleteI guarantee you don't have the guts to say that ignorant, misguided nonsense to Alderperson Clay's face.
If you would like to know who this racist neighbor is go to Alderwoman Clays page and check out the photos from the Sarahs Circle community meeting, he's in the second row to the right. Unattractive white man with glasses in a red Eddie Bauer jacket with his arms folded.
DeleteMike, must be nice to anonymously doxx others, rules for thee not for me, I guess :)
DeleteAlso, using the "R" word to shut down anyone who disagrees with your stockholm syndrome socialism. So original (NOT!) We'll we will see about that come March 2027, you so called progressives are gonna get your A**ses handed to you. You and Brandon are gonna have to find another grift.
DeleteI just wish the city would find places for housing like this in less sketchy areas.
ReplyDeletethere's a survey to provide input https://46thward.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f168517d7959ad4004b872f59&id=d6bca8c06d&e=5afc909bb2
ReplyDeletewhat a waste of the lot.
ReplyDelete