OLD TOWN — Developers planning a 500-apartment tower in Old Town have added eight stories to their proposed building in exchange for a greater setback meant to improve neighbors’ views.
Fern Hill, the development firm planning an overhaul of several Old Town properties around North Avenue and LaSalle Drive that will include the 44-story tower, filed a Planned Development application with City Council Monday revealing the proposal’s updated design.
The revised tower, which would sit above the Walgreens at North Avenue and Wells Street, is now set back more than 40 feet from Wells, reducing the building’s width by 15 percent from 190 feet to 164 feet, according to the application. At the same time, the building’s height will grow by 85 feet.
Developers said in a statement the height increase will not affect surrounding neighbors’ views.
The changes are the latest in a series of revisions Fern Hill has made to the plans in response to neighborhood feedback, which has been collected through community meetings and a public engagement website since 2021. In January, the developers revealed a new design for the building that featured warmer colors in its architecture meant to reflect the character of nearby buildings.
“Our priority from the start has been to have an authentic dialogue with the community and get feedback from residents, business owners and other stakeholders, and we’re proud to present a revised design that reflects those insights,” said Nick Anderson, founder and president of Fern Hill.
In addition to building the tower along North Avenue between Wells Street and LaSalle Drive, the developers plan to:
- Remove the BP and Shell gas stations at 1647 N. LaSalle Drive and 130 W. North Ave. so the Moody Church can expand its administrative offices.
- Redevelop the Walgreens at North Avenue and Wells Street to modernize its storefront while allowing for part of the tower to be built above it.
- Transform the vacant Treasure Island store on Wells Street, which developers are working to fill with a new grocery store.
Of the tower’s 500 apartments, 100 will be rented out affordably while the other 400 will go at market rate, developers said.
The Walgreens at its base, 1601 N. Wells St., would temporarily move into part of the vacant Treasure Island store while its current storefront is remodeled at the base of the tower, Anderson previously told Block Club.
To fill the eastern storefront of the tower’s base level, the developers have struck a deal with Commissary Market, a locally owned grocery store that recently closed after 45 years in the Gold Coast. Until the tower’s construction is finished, Commissary Market will temporarily fill the other portion of the Treasure Island storefront.
Throughout the community engagement process, the project has been met with divided reaction from neighbors. Many have expressed strong opposition and concerns that the tower will exacerbate traffic congestion. But other neighbors have supported the proposal, saying the area needs more density, affordable housing and safety improvements.
Anderson told neighbors during a January community meeting that although the addition of 500 apartments would bring more traffic to the area, its impact will be offset by the removal of the two gas stations.
“This proposal provides a net positive impact to traffic,” Anderson said at the time.
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), whose ward encompasses the project, has not taken a stance on the proposal, which will still need approval from him, the Zoning Board of Appeals and City Council.
Support Local News!
Subscribe to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods. Already subscribe? Click here to gift a subscription, or you can support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation.
Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:
