Stan's Donuts Slated to Anchor 'Platform 4611' Retail

"Platform 4611" now under construction at Broadway & Wilson.

 The corner of Broadway and Wilson has had a long history with donuts. Old-timers might recall the "Wilson Donut Shop" that was inside of the current Gerber building at 4620 N. Broadway. It inspired the Broadway play "Superior Donuts" which eventually became a short-lived series on CBS.

The building which stood on the NE corner of Broadway and Wilson until the late 1960s also had a donut shop right on the corner called "Do Do Donuts." It was later demolished and replaced with the one story strip mall which is now but a memory and soon to be replaced by a 9 story midrise. 

A woman passes "Do Do Donuts" at Broadway & Wilson, Gerber Building in background.

Fast forward 50+ years and a new donut shop is set to open up in the same corner space at Broadway and Wilson in the currently rising "Platform 4611" building. According to the Mid America Real Estate listing, Stan's Donuts will be opening an Uptown location! Currently the closest locations are in Lakeview. 

The UU Team has been a fan of Stan's for years now and we look forward to noshing on a Peanut Butter Pocket or Buttercream Bismark while we watch the world pass by Broadway & Wilson. Wonderful news!

Celebrate The Year Of The Tiger On February 5

Argyle Lunar New Year Celebration

Saturday, February 5, 2022

12:00-4:00pm (parade kick-off at 1:00pm)

Join Uptown United and 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman on Argyle Street in 2022 as Uptown continues its annual tradition (going back 40+ years) of celebrating the Lunar New Year! To welcome the Year of the Tiger, we’ll be hosting the Lunar New Year Parade on Saturday February 5th (kick-off at 1:00pm sharp at Argyle & Winthrop) featuring 20+ local community groups, cultural institutions, dancers and performers!  In addition, a number of local organizations are planning pop-ups with family-friendly activities that day between 12:00-4:00pm.  

COVID-19 Safety Protocols

Please note that we are closely following any guidance provided for public events from the City of Chicago related to COVID-19.  The parade is an outdoor celebration, and the route will cover 8 blocks with plenty of room to spread out and watch from either side.  NOTE: As most parade-goers line up along both Argyle St. & Broadway, please take advantage of the roomier sidewalks on Sheridan & Ainslie to ensure everyone’s safety.  The parade will kick-off at 1:00pm headed east from Argyle & Winthrop, south on Sheridan, west on Ainslie, and north on Broadway back to Argyle.   Masks are encouraged.

McHugh Construction Starts Vertical Construction of Platform 4611

McHugh Construction has begun vertical construction of Platform 4611, a nine-story multifamily building that will offer 200 rental units and street-level retail across from the recently renovated Wilson CTA train station.

CHICAGO (Jan. 10, 2022) — McHugh Construction, one of the Midwest’s largest commercial contractors with a concentration in high-end multifamily, has announced the start of work on Platform 4611, a nine-story mixed-use development at 4611 N. Broadway in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. The building will bring 200 rental units and approximately 9,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space to the northeast corner of Broadway and Wilson Avenue, just steps from the Wilson CTA train station.

Chicago-based co-developers The John Buck Company (JBC) and Free Market Ventures tapped McHugh Construction to serve as general contractor on the approximately 154,000-square-foot project, which replaces a cluster of low-rise commercial structures. JBC and McHugh previously collaborated on developments such as the Virgin Hotel in the Loop and MILA Luxury Apartments.

“Whenever a developer with an outstanding reputation like The John Buck Company chooses to partner with us for repeat work, we know it’s because our team has proven themselves in the past and is ready to exceed expectations once again,” said Ray Cisco, project executive with McHugh Construction.

The Uptown project gets the Platform 4611 name from its convenient location across the street from the renovated Wilson CTA train station, which serves the Red and Purple Lines. As a transit-oriented development, Platform 4611 will offer its residents easy access to downtown Chicago as well as provide surface level parking for 22 vehicles and 178 bicycles.

Designed by architecture firm Pappageorge Haymes Partners, the mid-rise building will feature a masonry and glass façade. Levels two through eight will offer a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom units, while the top floor will include four three-bedroom penthouse units and a host of building amenities.

Like many projects in a post-Covid world, JBC, McHugh, and Pappageorge Haymes spent a significant amount of time during the preconstruction phase in identifying building features and programming to respond to the changing needs of all building residents and users and ensure occupants feel safe. Some of those changes include a completely touchless entry sequence, destination dispatch elevators, reservable individual office space on each residential floor, and a fitness center with heat map technology to ensure that occupants maintain social distancing. The rooftop amenity floor is home to a dedicated co-working space as well as an outdoor terrace offering grilling stations for residents, multiple seating areas, and sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline.

“With a few exceptions, based on the discussions we’re having with multifamily developers, the Chicago market is likely to see more projects like Platform 4611 -- sophisticated mid-rises containing the same finishes and amenity packages you would find in a Class A high-rise,” added Cisco. “By leveraging our decades of experience in multifamily construction, McHugh is able to apply the same level of expertise from our work on downtown’s skyscrapers to more modestly sized, neighborhood-oriented developments like Platform 4611.”

With work on Platform 4611 now underway, McHugh has completed the building’s caisson foundation and has begun vertical construction. The building is on track to top out in spring 2022 and welcome its first residents in late 2022 or early 2023.

New Chicago Pizza Star Milly's Pizza Set to Open on Argyle

We had seen construction going on at 1005 W. Argyle over the last week but haven't had information on what was opening in the former Benny's location until now. (h/t Joe Ward / Block Club Chicago).

COVID-startup Milly's Pizza has announced they are opening their first brick and mortar location next to Don Pablo's Kitchen & Bakeshop, already under construction for their first brick and mortar at 1007 W. Argyle. 

Milly's Pizza (Instagram)

The Block Club Chicago article quotes the owner, who previously operated out of a shared kitchen in Logan Square, as aiming for a 20 seat sitdown along with takeout and delivery.

Since opening during 2020's COVID lockdowns, owner Robert Maleski has gained a number of accolades, including being named a Top 25 pizza place in Chicago, and has great Yelp reviews.  Maleski told the Tribune that his pizza is styled after Chicago pizza giant Burt's Place, and the results on Instagram bear that out.  

Before opening the new location in February, you can try Milly's via Tock. Daily pizza quantities are limited but access should expand along with the additional capacity at the brick and mortar location.

Milly's joins Don Pablo's in a newly hot restaurant corridor, joining recently featured DaNang Kitchen, Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant Kie-Gol-Lanee and a still secret bakery coming soon. 

We will be visiting frequently, as should you.  Support Uptown's small businesses, especially Argyle's many amazing legacy restaurants.

After 3 Proposals, Developer Builds 'As Of Right' At 4537 N Clark

 

Previous 4 story rendering of 4537 N. Clark (Axios)

Ald. Cappleman just sent out his 2021 year in review newsletter and there were some interesting development tidbits as well as a rundown of all of the projects currently under construction, coming up, or being considered. We are certainly in one of the largest development booms in Uptown's recent history. 

The large property at 4537-45 N. Clark has been empty since demolition a year ago, and Alderman Cappleman's newsletter confirmed our sourcing showing that work is well underway in constructing a new building.  

In a process we see play out time and time again, another developer (Longford) has foregone community input and is building as of right. In each case, the developer requests a zoning change and the local block club (here Dover Street Neighbors) rejects each proposal over height, shadows or parking concerns. Then the developer tweaks the proposal to fit within current zoning and builds basically what was requested before the zoning change request, this time with no input from the alderman (and outside ARO requirements).

You might recall the long saga of this property from prior posts. Two different developers presented 3 different proposals, all turned down by Dover Street Neighbors, which claimed jurisdiction over Clark Street at the time.  Following the rejections, the owners proposed a one story strip mall, but we now know they have now returned to a mixed residential and retail concept.

From what we have seen, the new building will span the three lots and conform with current zoning. It appears the unit count has been lowered from 24 units to 14, suggesting a move to condos, rather than apartments. The building will still be 4 stories with balconies and ground floor retail. 

Although we don't have the latest rendering, we included the last rendering of a 4 story proposal, as the design will likely be similar, at least in size and scale. We will share the rendering once we receive it.

Again, because the developer is building within the zoning, the current local block club, Clark Street Neighbors Association, will not be consulted. 

Tying in with other developments, the development flood gates have opened on Clark! We look forward to seeing the building rise and welcoming new residents.

Health Center Finds New Home, Development Set To Begin On Sheridan

Mavrek Development's 4501 N. Sheridan (Mavrek)

As we reported back nearly one year ago, the new development at 4501 N. Sheridan appears poised to move forward. A sign for Sunnyside Health Center has now appeared at 4140 N. Broadway, seen below. 

4140 N. Broadway (UU)

This was the former location of Super Coin Laundry. We have watched the demo and buildout over the last 6 months with interest. This suggests that the old location of Sunnyside Health Center will close soon, and demolition of the strip mall at 4501 N. Sheridan will follow soon after. Demolition permits have already been requested with the city but not yet granted.

4502-4510 N. Clark Goes Residential With 4 Story Addition

The revitalization of Clark Street continues as a multi-address one story retail building is set to be reborn as residential. 

We first learned of the plans in early 2021 and saw basic architectural documents. We then watched interior demo take place in the summer. Although there has been no clear progress since then, the building permitting process takes time and we are beginning to see the process play out. 

Plans are detailed in building permits filed for the building, which is on the NW corner of Clark & Sunnyside and has access on both streets. The official address for the development is 4504 N. Clark, and plans show a building spanning approximately 120 feet on Clark with four stories above. The location has been partially empty for over 5 years and is also the recent former home of Fox Village, now relocated to 4625 N. Clark.

According to building permit applications, we can confirm the first story retail facade will remain with 23 ground floor parking spaces and an additional 4 stories of residential containing 12 condo units and balconies added above. We can't release architectural plans yet, but the office of Jonathan Splitt Architects is the architect of record and Raftery Construction is the developer.  Splitt, as loyal readers will recall, is the architectural firm that handled the Eagles Building rehab on Sheridan and Broadway.

Scaffolding has been erected around the vintage building and the windows are now boarded up in anticipation of construction. Depending on when the remaining permits are issued, we expect completion as early as mid-2022 to early 2023. 

This continues the renaissance of Clark Street, which has seen developments at 4410 N. Clark, 4511-23 N. Clark, 4533 N. Clark, 4537-53 N. Clark (pending) and 4641 N. Clark, with more yet to come. These developments will revitalize the strip and add needed housing density as well as much-needed modern retail spaces. We also are watching nearby buildings at 4502 N. Beacon (almost complete), 4630 N. Malden (about to start) and 1351 W. Wilson (pending zoning review), all of which will provide a huge boost to the area and replace empty lots. It's a good time to be in Uptown.

Uptown's Got Igloos, but Not for the Cold

If you've made your way down Argyle like we did for Christmas shopping, you may have noticed some changes to the streetscape. Scattered along Argyle and Broadway are multiple igloos, sponsored by Uptown United, Asia on Argyle and the City of Chicago. 

Argyle & Kenmore

The program is called Winter on Argyle and runs through spring. The intent is to encourage on site, in person dining outside the restaurants. Each igloo has a table and chairs for four.

It's January 2022, Time for a Development Update

2021 was a busy year in Uptown, and 2022 looks to be even busier.

Close to Uptown's northern border, we check in on the development at 1131-1135 W. Winona (Winona and Broadway). 

1135 Winona (In Progress)

1131-1135 Winona (Cedar Street)

Known locally as "5051 Broadway," the three-building project is an extension of the 5050 N. Broadway rehab completed by Cedar Street in 2020. Construction is well underway with completion by the end of 2022. 

Next up, another Cedar Street project, this time at 4600 N. Kenmore. Readers will recall this as the former parking lot of 1050 W. Wilson, now future home to the new Double Door.

4600 Kenmore (Cedar Street / Level Architecture)

4600 Kenmore (In Progress)

This five story development will feature 62 new units and is expected to complete construction by summer.

One door down, 4611 N. Broadway has made it above ground level and (so we hear) will top out by late spring. With the Double Door, this 9 story, 200 unit project will remake the corner of Wilson and Broadway.

4611 Broadway (John Buck Company / Pappageorge Haymes)

4611 Broadway (In Progress)

Meanwhile, over on Uptown's other major diagonal street, things on Clark are heating up. 4410 N. Clark, a 24 unit new build replaced an empty warehouse and is now owned by Black Ensemble Theater courtesy of Jeff Bezos' ex. Expect completion in early spring.

4410 Clark (2rz)

4410 Clark (In Progress)

Directly north on Clark, 4511 N. Clark has received demolition permits and demolition and construction are imminent.

4511 N. Clark (2rz Architects)

One door north, another 24 units are coming on line with the rehabilitation of the former "Bag Plaza" building at 4533 N. Clark. After rehab in 2012, Honore Developments bought the building in 2021 and is converting the former commercial warehouse to residential, including adding an additional story (shown below).

4533 N. Clark 

Next door, we await the new plans for 4537 N. Clark, currently an empty lot. This was the subject of three prior development proposals, all rejected by the Dover Street block club. We hear the developer is now building to right and will seek no input from the local block club. Expect around 14 new units with ground floor commercial.

Up the block, the condo development at 4645 N. Clark is close to topping out. The former home of
"Exotic Creations," the building is being built as of right. We hear the site will feature 4 duplex condos.

4645 N. Clark (Hanna Architects)

4645 N. Clark (In Progress_

Lots of progress and we look forward to seeing all of these buildings completed this year. And psst, there is yet more development news to come for the 4400, 4500, 4600 and 4700 blocks of Clark, so stay tuned!