Seems it was recently sold and is now under construction. It will be residential only, a condo building with nine units of three- and four-bedroom homes. It's projected to be completed by February 2013, and according to the four units already listed on Redfin, the asking prices will range from $389.9K to $499.9K. Here's the construction permit, and here's the high-end Redfin listing. Below is a rendering of what the finished building will look like.
We're not thrilled that there won't be ground-floor retail on one of our main thoroughfares, but there are plenty of vacant storefronts in the area already. We are excited about something being built there at long last. Empty lots don't contribute to a healthy community, and let's face it, Chicago can use the real estate taxes. It will be fun to take a look at the finished building and see how it compares to the artist's vision:
What's with the totally uninspired and lazy architecture of new condo developments? The design of this building is terrible – tiny windows, uninspired "architectural" detail, precast "brick" siding - for half a million dollars for a unit, one would expect something higher quality and more unique.
ReplyDeleteAt least the proposed Halsted development has had some thought and creativity/design put into it. Will be a great addition to the neighborhood once approved... in contrast to that uninspired/lazy chunk of Sedgwick architecture a few blocks away.
Not a bad looking building at all. Looks like a true throwback. So much new contruction is just ugly as heck. Looks Good. Will be fun to see this built.
ReplyDeleteIt looks ok but not very "artistic".
ReplyDeleteBetter then an empty lot no doubt. I think a church used to be there.
Some half-hearted atttepts to look vintage make me wish more would just embrace modern design.
In vintage buildings the entrance is a focal point. Where is the entrance?
In the back with the parking....visionary indeed.
If you aren't thrilled with the lack of ground floor retail on this 'main thoroughfare', perhaps we should also do something about the similar shortage that exists on the south side of Montrose from Clark to Kenmore?
ReplyDeleteNot everything has to be mixed-use and not all arterial roads are lined end-to-end with retail. If they were, life in the city would be very, very boring.
Gotta love the renderings... nothing like reality. One might think this is located in a bucolic pasteur. No cars on Montrose (maybe they bought Sedgewick's casual pedestrian promenade representation?), no courtyard building to the north nor ally/building to the East.
ReplyDeleteI had thought the lousy housing market might hamper low quality design and cheap-looking buildings, but I guess I was mistaken. No doubt the masonry will be super-sized utility brick.
ReplyDeleteWell, this used to be the site of a school for special-needs children. Whatever happened to that?
ReplyDeleteHow long has that vacant lot been there anyways?
ReplyDeleteHaha, I knew that most people wouldnt like it, I still think is better than alot of bad stuff out there, its true modern design in general isnt so good.
DuneWonk "Not everything has to be mixed-use and not all arterial roads are lined end-to-end with retail. If they were, life in the city would be very, very boring."
I dont think it would be boring if ALL arterial roads had end to end retail, thats not what is being requested here. MORE RETAIL would be better. Not enough retail IS BORING.
This rendering is so bad that only a FIVE letter word could describe it...Fugly! It's neither modern nor vintage...I'm thinkin crappage.
ReplyDeleteGood Lord people...have you not seen all the vacant small retail spaces everywhere in Uptown? We do not need more retail for the foreseeable future. There are literally probably 100 vacant small retail spaces empty in Uptown.. just because you build them, doesnt mean you fill them..
ReplyDeleteI think this will look a lot nicer than the rendering. Search 1312 W Madison if you want to see a similar building developed by the same realtor. I wonder what will go on the larger empty lot down the street at Hermitage.
ReplyDeleteDune Wonk, I sense that you are being "ironic" about the south side of Montrose between Clark and Kenmore...blocks-long cemetery walls can also be very boring, despite the nice newer brick and wrought iron. But I'm content to let the dead be dead: they were there long before the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteOk, I'll add my ¢2. I've certainly seen a lot worse than this, and I like the three faux roof beaks, it keeps the building entirely square. I would however like to see bay windows, especially on the Montrose side, either where the beige siding sections are or to breakup those 3 sets of plain windows all in a row. This "utility brick" as Todd so nicely put it is getting real old. Why can't a new development use some recycled brick? That right there would add 1,000x the class and heritage to these buildings and would certainly help them blend in to the existing neighborhood more. PS, Google Earth shows that it's been vacant since 2008.
ReplyDeleteThis building is "fugly". But unless they are asking for a zoning variance, they can pretty much build what they like.
ReplyDelete