Belgravia Group and Sandz Development will build 401condominiums in a 40-story building on the north side of the siteand a 46-story building to the south. Construction is expected totake five years, and begin with the north tower. The project got afavorable recommendation, albeit with a rare dissenting vote, fromthe plan commission Thursday.

Plans were approved by the city in 1985 for a 79-story buildingwith 650 multifamily rental units and 350 hotel rooms, as well asfour floors of office space. That project would have been 50%larger than the proposal by 600 Lake Shore Drive, LLC, the entityformed by Belgravia Realty Group and Sandz Development for theirbuilding.

Most recently, plans were approved in 2000 for a 49-story,252-unit building that also failed to advance off the drawingboard. Belgravia Group and Sandz Development is buying the propertyfrom Skokie-based the Alter Group, which has owned the site since1987.