Stephens Commons Nearly Complete, Now Leasing

March 2024

preconstruction rendering by Landon Bone Baker Architects

It's been astounding how quickly the new building at 835 West Wilson has gone up. From ground-breaking in late 2022 to near completion now, it's been great fun to watch it take shape.

Stephens Commons, as it's known, is a 73-unit all-senior (62+), all-affordable residential rental building. There's no ground-floor retail (as is the norm on that stretch of Wilson) and the units are a mix of 10 studios, 49 one-bedrooms, and 14 two-bedrooms. There are amenities like a weight room, community room, outdoor deck, and a garden.

You can read more about it and fill out a rental application here.

46th Ward Year in Review - Many Highlights from 2022

Alderman Cappleman released his end of year recap of 46th Ward news this morning. Although it's worth reading the whole thing in detail, we thought we would summarize some of the highlights here:

Alderman Cappleman's introduction:

When I first entered office back in 2011, my goal was to make the 46th Ward a place where a young parent with their child would feel at ease walking on any street in their community. It was a big dream given that some parts of the Ward were in the 95th percentile for violent crime. Today, we're experiencing the lowest rate of violent crime in our Ward's history.

I know better than to take all the credit. It really goes to all of us working together. Crime goes down when the police, Cook County State's Attorney's Office, our local chambers, our area businesses, and most importantly, our residents are all working together.

When word got out that the 46th Ward was a great place to live, it became a sought after community. Two weeks ago, the headline from Block Club Chicago stated, "A Wave Of Construction Is Changing Uptown's Wilson Avenue. Here Are the 4 Projects Adding 650 Apartments" and no one, not even me, would have ever imagined such a thing just 10 years ago. 

Now, we're going full steam ahead with all types of projects and we are still experiencing very low vacancy rates. It certainly didn't come overnight, but nothing worthwhile happens that way. It was hard work. This newsletter includes a summary of all we accomplished this year.

Highlights: 

• The 46th Ward was the first ward in the City to partner with CDPH to provide Narcan to residents to combat the rise of Fentanyl in recreational drugs.

• With respect to homelessness, the 46th Ward was the only Ward (of 50) that used City of Chicago menu grants exclusively on addressing chronic homelessness, funding existing service providers. 

• Alderman Cappleman worked with City Council to expand funding for shelters and housing, increasing rapid rehousing units by 1200 in 2023 (an increase from 400 units in 2022) and ensuring official commitment to use the 7 principles outlined by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

• Courtenay School opened their new play space, enabled by TIF funds.

• Clarendon Park Community Center renovations began, using TIF funds and a contribution from the developer of 811 Uptown. The remaining half of the TIF went to homelessness programs.

• The Clarendon Park tennis courts on Montrose were scheduled for rehabilitation and repaving 

• The Uptown Coastal Natural Area project began this year at Wilson and  Marine

• The Winthrop Family Historical Garden was reconstructed and rededicated, honoring the legacy of the Winthrop ‘Family,’ a community of Black residents who fought racist segregation to make Uptown their home along the 4600 Block of Winthrop.

• The existing protected bike lanes along Broadway from Montrose to Wilson will transition to pre-cast concrete curb barriers to more effectively block vehicles and other obstructions.

• Nearly $10 million in Chicago Recovery Grant funds went to 46th Ward programs, including Chicago Market, CircEsteem, the People’s Music School, Marina’s Cafe and the Chicago Center for Photojournalism

With respect to development, Alderman Cappleman noted that ongoing and completed projects are bringing 2,093 new units to 21 different sites. 1,895 of those units are being built on property where no housing previously existed. 9 developments qualified for the Affordable Requirements Ordinance,  adding 120 onsite affordable units and in-lieu fees totaling $4.6M.

• Developments were completed at 4502-04 N. Beacon (former parking lot), 4533 N. Clark (former warehouse) and 4526 N. Sheridan (rehabilitated vintage building)

• Development projects are ongoing at 4611 N. Broadway (former 1 story retail), 4753 N. Broadway (former bank and offices), 4511 N. Clark (former 1 story retail), 4537 N. Clark (former 1 and 2 story retail), 4645 N. Clark (former 2 story retail), 3501 N. Halsted (Howard Brown Medical Center, replacing former 1 story retail), 4447 N. Hazel (replacing an abandoned church), 4600 N. Kenmore (former parking lot), 920 W. Lawrence (gut renovation of existing senior housing), 1039 W. Lawrence (gut renovation of a SRO property), 4600 N. Marine Drive (former parking lot), 4840 N. Marine (renovation of an existing hospital), and 4501 N. Sheridan (former 1 story strip mall and parking lot)

• Approved or in process projects at 640 W. Irving Park (renovating a disused school), 3636 N. Lake Shore Drive (empty lot), 4612-30 N. Malden (empty lots), 4102 N. Sheridan (former 1 story strip mall and parking lot) and 4701 N. Clark (former 1 story bank and parking lot) are expected to begin in 2023

• Fully affordable projects are underway at 835 W. Wilson (former empty lot, senior affordable) and scheduled at 4745 N. Sheridan (former parking lot, Sarah's Circle 3rd Building for residents <30% AMI) 

With respect to the entertainment district, financing is still in process for the Uptown Theatre, but the plan is to start rehab work before the TIF expires at the end of 2025. Additionally, 

• The Riviera is undergoing a total restoration, including new air conditioning 

• The Double Door renovation is beginning with plans to open up toward the end of 2023 

• The Aragon is undergoing a full exterior rehabilitation  

• The Preston Bradley Center is undergoing a privately funded full rehabilitation

Another very successful year for the 46th Ward and Uptown, and we thankful for all that Alderman Cappleman and his team do. 

We are also hopeful that the new 46th Ward alderman will continue to focus on continued growth of the Ward in 2023 and beyond.

UU

 

"East Wilson Avenue" Joins The Construction Boom

There's been a lot of new construction and new businesses on Wilson Avenue in the Sheridan Park and Wilson L areas, but it's getting really busy further east on Wilson, on the first couple blocks where housing is allowed to be established.

There were two large cranes in action on Tuesday afternoon, at 835 Wilson and Wilson/Clarendon.

What a change from just a couple weeks ago!

Stephens Commons, the all-affordable senior building at 835 Wilson, continues its very quick rise, with pre-cast concrete slabs being brought to the site and assembled there. It's starting to look a lot like the architectural rendering already! This building site has been vacant for decades, and is being partially financed with the help of Lake View Towers, the "Twin Towers" co-op immediately east of it.

Half a block east, 4600 Marine Drive is beginning to look a lot like a building site instead of a parking lot it was. A very large crane is on-site, and the first walls are beginning to go up.

The first of many, many walls to come.

On December 3rd, Weiss was acquired by Resilience Healthcare, which is owned by Manoj Prasad, who has a track record of turning around community hospitals and improving their financial and clinical operations. According to Crain's Chicago Business, Mr. Prasad "wants to expand services offered at the two hospitals and stabilize them after challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic."

We look forward to seeing these two underutilized lots become homes to more neighbors!

Going Up! 73-Unit All-Affordable Rental Building Is Being Built At Record Speed

Projection of finished building
Brinshore / Landon Bone Architects

Stephens Commons, the 100% affordable apartment building for seniors being built at 835 West Wilson, has been a lot of fun to watch due to the speed at which construction is progressing.

It's made of precast concrete slabs, assembled on-site, which are being formed into an L shape.

It will consist of 73 units, all classified as affordable. 20 units will be set aside for tenants earning 30% or less of the Average Median Income (AMI), 34 units will go to tenants earning 60% or less of the AMI, and 19 units will go to those earning 80% or less of the AMI.

The building will be six stories tall, and will have 10 studio apartments, 49 one-bedrooms, and 14 two-bedrooms.

The lot on which it is being built has been vacant for nearly 50 years.

Stop by next time you're in the area. It's fun to watch it come together.

After Two Years, Affordable Housing Development Gets the Green Light

835 West Wilson

Brinshore / Landon Bone Architects

We first disclosed the senior affordable housing coming to 835 W. Wilson nearly two years ago. After receiving approval from the City Council in December 2021, the project finally obtained necessary permits this week. 

The construction start means the lot at 835 West Wilson, which has been empty for over 50 years and previously occupied by the Clarendon Beach Hotel, will be occupied once again, restoring lost density to the flourishing Wilson corridor.

Brinshore / Landon Bone Architects

Brinshore Development LLC is the developer of record and has a history of similar affordable developments. The development is supported by a mix of tax credits and Housing Trust Fund funds from the Illinois Housing and Development Authority.  

835 Wilson will have 73 units in total.  Approximately 30% of the units are designated for residents earning below 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), 50% for residents under 60 percent of the AMI, and 20% for residents under 80 percent of the AMI.  Chicago YIMBY lists 10 studios, 49 one-bedrooms, and 14 two-bedrooms in the development. 

We at Uptown Update look forward to the added density, infill of empty spaces, and increased availability of affordable housing to Uptown's seniors, with more development yet to come... ;)

Boom Goes the Dynamite

If, like us, you have been waiting patiently for the demise of one of Uptown's most unsightly strip malls, today was your day.

We first learned of the new development at 4501 N. Sheridan in late 2020 and disclosed it in early 2021, and multiple photos and messages sent from readers today confirmed that construction is close at hand. The mall was formerly home to Sunnyside Health Center, which has moved to 4140 N. Broadway. 

The project by Mavrek Development is known as Forty Five-01. It is being built as of right and will feature rental units. It replaces a particularly unsightly strip mall that, paired with the strip mall directly north, has been a dreary stretch of Uptown for many years.

4501 N. Sheridan (Mavrek Development)

While Clark Street is garnering headlines, the Clarendon Park section of Uptown is also hot, with this development, the upcoming 4600 N. Marine (where another reader writes she saw construction vehicles earlier today), the senior affordable housing development at 835 W. Wilson and 4447 N. Hazel, which is set to start any day.

It's a great time to be in Uptown.

101 Units of New Affordable Housing Approved for Uptown

Yesterday the Chicago Department of Planning and Development announced that it had approved two new affordable housing developments in Uptown, one at 835 West Wilson and one at 4737 N. Sheridan.

Taken together, the two developments will add 101 new units of affordable to the neighborhood and add needed density, filling a long-empty lot on Wilson and replacing an unsightly street level parking lot on Sheridan.

835 W. Wilson (Chicago DPD)

First reported here in June 2020, 835 West Wilson will be affordable senior housing. Per DPD, twenty units will be rented at 30% of the AMI ("area median income"), 34 units will be rented at 60% of the AMI, and 19 units will be rented at 80% of the AMI. Brinshore Developments, a developer focusing on affordable developments, is the owner and developer.

4737 N. Sheridan (Chicago DPD)

The building at 4737 N. Sheridan, first reported here in October 2020, is the third location for Sarah's Circle and will be paid for by over $3 million in in lieu funds from the upcoming 4600 N. Marine Development.  The building will provide 28 units of permanent supportive housing units for at risk women below 30% of the AMI, office space for Sarah's Circle, and six parking spaces. 

Local residents will recall that Sarah's Circle built another 38 unit building at Sheridan and Leland in 2019 using $3.5 million of local TIF funds. Alderman Cappleman wrote that in his June 2021 letter approving the 4600 Marine development that Sarah's Circle would not use TIF funds for this project, but we heard from the 46th Ward Office that Sarah's Circle needed to tap $500,000 from the local TIF for project design after DPD requested revisions.

At the same time, Weiss Hospital's owner has continued to follow through on promises made during the review process for 4600 Marine, announcing that a new multimillion dollar renovation and expansion is prepared to give Weiss one of the most advanced orthopedic units in the city.

From our perspective here at UU, this news, coupled with the upcoming 4600 N. Marine project, looks like a win-win-win-win outcome for the residents of Uptown. We look forward to the added density, infill of empty spaces, and increased availability of affordable housing to Uptown's most vulnerable women and seniors.

Affordable Senior Housing Proposed For 835 W. Wilson

Brinshore Development's proposal for 835 W. Wilson (Landon Bone Baker Architects)

Current vacant lot at 835 W. Wilson (Google)

This morning, we woke to good news regarding a long vacant Uptown lot.  

Ald. Cappleman shared a proposal last night on his development page that hopes to fill the empty lot at 835 W. Wilson with affordable housing for seniors.

Brinshore Development, the developer working with Sarah's Circle and Ald. Cappleman on the $17,500,000 affordable housing/women's shelter now under construction at Sheridan & Leland, plans a 6 story building with a total of 73 rental units designated for seniors over 62. The building is being designed by Landon Bone Baker Architects, a firm that specializes in affordable developments.

Brinshore is seeking a zoning change for the project and proposes no ground-level retail along Wilson.  The building has a total of 44 parking spaces, with a new curb cut off of Wilson Avenue.

Clarendon Park Neighbors Association will review the proposal and share their feedback with Ald. Cappleman and the developer.

Total cost of the project is $26,000,000.

According to the developer application, Brinshore is hoping to receive funding from the Illinois Housing and Development Authority in the form of tax credits and Housing Trust Fund funds.

UU Note: This site was once home to "The Clarendon Beach Apartments."