Alderman denies request to build apartments in Andersonville

A developer’s proposal to turn an Anderonsville home into 18 apartments has been shot down.

Chicago Alderman Andre Vasquez, of the 40th Ward, rejected the redevelopment proposal for 5400 North Ashland Avenue, after the owner, Josh Bradley, requested a zoning change, Block Club reported. 

The proposal entailed replacing the existing home with a five-story rental building, comprising two- and three-bedroom units. Among those, four units were intended to meet the city’s affordability criteria. The design incorporated nine parking spaces and bike parking within a garage, along with rooftop deck amenities.

The majority of feedback from constituents opposed the development, Vazquez said. They disliked the building’s height, design and minimal affordable options. Vasquez conveyed those concerns to Bradley after a Nov. 28 community meeting. 

Adjustments, such as reducing the building’s height and aligning its aesthetics with the neighborhood’s character would be necessary before he could endorse any future proposal, Vasquez said.

This isn’t the first time a proposal for this property has been rejected. In 2020, Vasquez denied Candea Development’s plan to rezone it for a three-story building with seven condos. That time, the denial was due to insufficient affordable housing and density concerns from neighbors. 

Bradley acquired the property for $745,000 in 2021, the outlet reported. With a background in civil engineering and construction management, Bradley, along with his spouse, envisioned transforming the site into a multifamily housing option, highlighting the growing demand for affordable housing in Andersonville.

In light of the recent denial, Vasquez’s office is organizing a meeting with residents and businesses to explore alternative strategies for enhancing affordable housing in the neighborhood. Bradley has not commented on the decision.

—Quinn Donoghue 

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