The University of Chicago’s plan for a 1,300-bed dorm complex on the southern edge of its Hyde Park campus topped the list of construction permits issued by the city’s buildings department in July, with ComEd’s new Avondale complex coming in a distant second.
None of the top 10 permits issued last month was for a project in the heart of Downtown, though the West Loop appeared on the list twice. Aside from the new dorm, the only residential projects to make the list were a 60-unit senior housing redevelopment in West Pullman and a new six-flat in Logan Square.
An elementary school renovation made the list, as did transportation projects at the Jefferson Park Transit Center and O’Hare Airport.
Together, the 10 projects combine for more than $283 million of work across nine different neighborhoods. The list was compiled using city building permit records.
1. 1156 East 61st Street | $102.6 million
Plans for the University of Chicago’s Woodlawn Residential Commons include 1,309 total dorm beds split among four separate towers, the tallest of which would rise 16 stories. The towers will grow from the same single-story podium, where the university received a permit to build a kitchen and dining hall. The complex is part of the school’s wider effort to grow undergraduate housing near the southern part of its campus.
2. 3420 North California Avenue | $57.5 million
One of the final permits approved last month gives electric utility ComEd the go-ahead to start building a three-story office building with 120,000 square feet of space as part of its years-long upgrade to its Avondale location. Longer-term plans for the facility include an 80,000-square-foot warehouse, a 10,000-square-foot public “STEM education area” and a 1,200-space parking garage.
3. 4555 North Sheridan Road | $30.7 million
CRG marked the official groundbreaking in June for its 149-unit apartment complex at Sheridan Road and Wilson Avenue, but the project’s full building permit was not approved until July 17, according to city records. A few blocks to the west, Praedium Development is awaiting permits for a 197-unit apartment complex at 4601 North Broadway.
4. 11941 South Parnell Avenue | $15 million
Affordable housing developer Celadon Holdings landed a permit to build new elevators and install new plumbing and electrical systems for its adaptive reuse of the old West Pullman Elementary School, which was shuttered as part of the city’s mass closing of public schools in 2013. The developer will build 60 senior apartments in the 124-year-old brick landmark.
5. 112 North May Street | $15 million
Among a three-way tie for fourth-largest construction permit of July is property owner SVN’s renovation of its first two floors of office space in this 31,000-square-foot West Loop building. SVN advertises about 10,000 square feet for lease in the building.
6. 320 North Morgan Street | $15 million
Three years after Google debuted its new 1K West Fulton headquarters in the West Loop, a permit was issued for a $15 million alteration to the building’s third floor. Skender Construction and Burnham Nationwide are listed as contractors on the permit.
7. 2742 North Hamlin Avenue | $13.5 million
V&M Development was issued a new construction permit July 12 for a six-flat masonry building in Logan Square. The permit allows a roof deck, a back porch and a detached six-car garage.
8. 6110 North Fairfield Avenue | $13 million
Chicago Public Schools landed a permit to begin structural repairs at Clinton Elementary School in West Ridge. Planned work includes a new roof, bathroom renovations and a replacement of the building’s fire alarm system.
9. 4857 North Milwaukee Avenue | $10.8 million
The first phase of a $25 million renovation of the Jefferson Park Transit Center is ready to get underway, starting with new bus terminal canopies and added lighting and signage. The project will ultimately add elevators a raft of aesthetic upgrades.
10. 10000 West O’Hare Street | $10 million
United Airlines will add a two-story addition to its concourse building at O’Hare Airport. In March, city leaders announced an $8.5 billion plan to replace one of the terminals and add as many as 40 new gates at the nation’s second-busiest airport.