From Condemned Storefronts To Penthouse Rentals: 4421 North Clark Goes On The Market

Since Thanksgiving 2011, when a fire destroyed the interiors of three empty buildings at 4415-4423 North Clark, we've been watching with interest to see what develops.  We watched the city condemn them, then we saw them torn down, then we saw an empty lot for a couple years.  In spring of 2014, a new development began to go up.

Now a reader tells us they're ready for tenants.  "My husband and I live across the street from the new construction at 4421 N. Clark St. They are advertising market-rate rental apartments that will be available for move-in by August 1. There are 15 units ranging from 2-3 bedrooms, ranging from $2,099-$3,099/month, including penthouse units with private rooftops.

I wish I could get commission for forwarding, but I'm just excited to have a new, quality addition to the neighborhood. Our stretch of Clark St. is finally getting some TLC and development.

Here's the Zillow listing for one of the 2 bedroom units with pictures, etc:
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4421-N-Clark-St-Chicago-IL-60640/2141486136_zpid/"

New Development In The Former "Off Limits" Buildings

Apparently it's "Development Day!" on Uptown Update, as there's news of a third property to be developed, in addition to the Somerset and Maryville:

Last November, the three buildings at 4415-4421 N Clark were decrepit, dangerous, burned, and declared "Off Limits" by the city. We watched them get torn down, one by one, until only an empty lot remained, which became a parking lot. The lots were listed for sale.

We noticed last week that the chain-link fence had been removed and wondered if something was going on.

A reader sent in this photo of a building permit that was put up at the site.  It reads:  "On October 17, 2012, an application was filed by 4421 Clark LLC, to establish a four-story commercial and 18 dwelling unit building with rear yard reduction."

Way back in 2007, another developer had plans for an 18-unit condo building at the same site, which was put on hold in 2008 because of the economy.  We wonder if it might be look something like the previous plan?

Sounds interesting, and we hope it happens this time. This long-neglected block is finally getting some attention, with Pecking Order moving in and Black Ensemble Theater building its gorgeous new space. It's good to see the momentum keep going.

Clark Construction Speeding Right Along

It's been a fast couple months for construction at 4415-4423 N Clark, from literal lines in the dirt at the end of May to two-story exteriors today. 

According to the latest zoning notice we're aware of, the building will be four stories, with 18 dwelling units and ground-floor retail.  Check out our previous coverage here.

New Construction At 4415-23 North Clark

Construction has begun on the 4400 block of Clark on three empty lots that we've been watching for several years, from fire to "no entry" to teardown.

In autumn of 2012, a zoning change was applied for for the purpose of building 18 residential units with ground floor retail in a four-story building.

Last month the developer who had applied for the zoning change started work on the lots.  The work is being done by the same construction company that went in and fixed the flood-damaged "Mosa Building" on Leland and brought it up to code from the damages created by a slumlord who had illegally converted it to condos.

We'll watch and see what happens.  This block has been neglected for a long time and is finally starting to get some attention with the openings of Pecking Order and the new Black Ensemble Theater building.

Aerial View of Clark Construction Site

A bird's eye view of the progress on the construction going on behind the green screens at 4415-4423 North Clark.  We've followed the progress on this lot since the original buildings were declared "off limits" in 2011 after a fire and years of vacancies.  After a zoning change application went up in 2012, construction began a few months ago.  Thank you to reader B.S. for this photo.

And Then They Were Gone

We've been watching since last Thanksgiving, when the city declared the three storefronts at 4415-4423 North Clark "Off Limits."  Earlier this month, the demolition process began.  As of last week, all that remains is a big pile of rubble and some scaffolding.  An ignoble end to three buildings that were 90 to more than 100 years old, but their glory days were long gone, and we hope to see something better replace them eventually.

We took a look at the 1928 city directory, and in those pre-Depression days, that part of Clark was bustling!  That one block was home to a restaurant, two grocery stores, a cigar retailer, a meat market, an awnings dealer, a shoe repair shop, numerous car garages (both for parking and repair), an automobile repainter, an auto wrecker, a cigar maker, Chicago Architectural Bronze Company, Faber Instrument Company, and a drugstore.  We hope to see its fortunes improve back to the days when it was a vital retail corridor.

Going... Going... Gone

Last Thanksgiving, the row of storefronts at 4415-4423 N Clark were taped off after what appeared to be a fire and were declared "Off Limits" by the City of Chicago.  For those keeping score, they are the former homes of Pete's Upholstery, Little Quiapo restaurant, and a fruiteria.

 

A week or so ago, they were still boarded up and scaffolding had been put into place.

Today, the demolition process is underway.  The southernmost yellow brick building is rubble, and we don't hold out a lot of hope for the two buildings that are still standing.  A commenter on UU's Facebook page says the project foreman told her the site will become a parking lot, at least for the time being.  Another commenter/historian says:  "The middle one, 4421, with the brick arches, was the oldest, 1911. The wider one on the south was from the late 1920s."

We have to wonder if Jackie Taylor's ambitious plans for expansion around the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, just down the block, may play a part in their fate as time goes on?

That Was Quick

The saga of the lots at 4415-4421 N Clark continues.  Last year at this time they were declared "off limits" by the city, and later demolished, then turned into a parking lot.  In October, a zoning sign went up saying the developer wanted to put in an 18-unit building with ground floor retail.*  And now there's construction equipment and workers on site.  We'll keep an eye out for progress.  In any case, they will be a huge improvement on the burned-out and dilapidated buildings that stood in this spot a year ago.

* We have absolutely no inside information on this, but our hunch is that the 18 units will be rentals, since that's what banks are willing to make loans for these days.  We also suspect they will be built to be condo-conversions, for some future time when condos become moneymakers again.  Just our suspicions, and we could be way off-base.