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UPTOWN — A single-story retail strip on Clark Street in Uptown could be turned into a five-story residential and commercial building under a new development proposal.
MCZ Development wants to turn the property at 4511-4523 N. Clark St. into a complex with ground-floor retail and 56 apartments, according to the office of Ald. James Cappleman (46th). Plans also call for a ground-floor parking garage.
The new building would house a mix of studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with six designated as affordable, according to the proposal. About 3,600 square feet of retail will be built on the ground floor.
A parking garage would hold 27 parking spaces and a bike parking facility. Because of its proximity to public transportation, the project would qualify as a transit-oriented development, allowing it to provide less than the standard number of parking spots.
The existing retail strip was built in 1950, according to a listing for its storefronts. It was bought in January 2019 for $1.7 million by developer Orange Properties, Cook Country property records show.

It’s unclear if Orange Properties is involved in the development proposal. Representatives for MCZ Development and Orange Properties did not respond to requests for comment.
The proposal needs a zoning change before it can move forward. MCZ will be meeting with the Dover Street Neighbors group in the coming weeks to discuss the plan, Cappleman’s office said.
The Clark Street development is only one of a number of residential projects proposed for Uptown.
At Irving Park Road and Marine Drive, a developer wants to add nearly 500 new residential units at the former Immaculata High School campus. At 1359 W. Wilson, a developer is proposing a 40-unit apartment building to replace a retail strip.
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