Townhouses, Condos To Replace Newspaper Building

Jennifer Lasota of Single Site Solutions, who represents the developer, tells GlobeSt.com the two- and three-bedroom townhouses will range from $200,000 to $400,000. Four two-bedroom condominiums will be sold through the city's affordable housing program for $155,000. Construction could begin later this year.

Burrel Restaurant Corp. must get the property rezoned from business and commercial uses to residential zoning, and then have its residential planned development approved. However, the 70,000-sf development is not only smaller than what the proposed RM4.5 zoning would allow, it is about half the size allowed under the current B5-3 and C1-3 zoning for the property.

The project, east of the Gateway retail development on Howard Street as well as two Chicago Transit Authority Red Line stations, has been the subject of lengthy debate in Rogers Park, reports 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore. "This is the result of a very extensive and exhaustive community process," he says. "It will bring people with disposable income to Howard Street and will provide affordable housing."

In addition, it also adds for-sale units to a Rogers Park housing stock that is 70% rental, according to the department of planning and development. It also will retain the Wisdom Bridge theater. Moore says Burrel Restaurant Corp. will sell the building below cost to allow live theater to continue on Howard Street, which pleases 50th Ward Bernard Stone. "The Lerner building is a white elephant, and I'm delighted to see this change," says Stone, who represents West Rogers Park.