Density denied, single-family townhomes supplied.
That’s the course taken by Chicago developers in the Jefferson Park neighborhood with a property where custom home builder MK Construction & Builders has started work on the replacement for an apartment project that was shot down by residents and an alderman, Block Club Chicago reported.
Rather than a development of 48 apartments initially proposed for 5300 West Argyle Street, MK is building townhouse units are expected to be completed by the end of the year, and Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty is working with MK on the project.
Alderman Jim Gardiner, who represents the 45th ward, downzoned the property in 2021, a move that made the apartments project possible. He wrote a letter to his constituents recently announcing the townhouse development.
“For over 20 years, this particular lot was a vacant eyesore to Jefferson Park residents and a dumping ground for construction material and trash,” Gardiner wrote. “Witnessing positive developments on this property is not only aesthetically beneficial, but also has the potential to help increase property values in our area.”
Previous plans by developer American Heritage to build a 48-unit apartment complex on the site drew criticism from neighbors, in part due to the density of the project. Some residents said denser residential developments would boost the business corridor, but others argued that Jefferson Park’s less dense properties gave the neighborhood more of a suburban feel.
The project was never built and Gardiner downzoned the land in response to what he called “very valid concerns” from residents.
Jason O’Beirne, with Jameson Sotheby’s, said the units will sell for about $800,000 and their exact prices will depend on the strength of the real estate market. The homes will be 3,200 square feet and have four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms, as well as front and back yards. The new homes will be built to resemble the surrounding homes.
— Victoria Pruitt