Uptown's Largest Vacant Lakefront Lot to Become...Sarah's Circle

Sarah's on Sunnyside, Clarendon & Sunnyside (Perkins & Will)

From Clarendon Park resident and reader JF, news that Sarah's Circle is planning to acquire at least a portion of the empty lot located between Agatite and Sunnyside on Clarendon, located across from the Clarendon Park fieldhouse. 

This will be the 4th Sarah's Circle building in Uptown, and the first since the organization opened its "Sarah's on Lakeside" a bit over 2 years ago.

According to plans filed with the city, Sarah's Circle is planning "Sarah's on Sunnyside" on the northernmost part of the vacant lot owned by the Missionary Sisters of The Sacred Heart at 4432-58 N. Clarendon. 

The proposed building will have 54 supportive housing units for single women along with office space for Sarah's Circle and community space for residents.  The building will look virtually the same as the recently opened Sarah's on Lakeside building, but will be taller at 7 stories.

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!

The Lot and Proposed Site