At the border of Wicker Park and Noble Square, plans are advancing to bring a 14-unit transit-oriented apartment development to a narrow overgrown lot that has sat vacant for 20 years.
The upcoming four-story building—called Wicker Park Place—is slated for the corner of Milwaukee and Haddon Avenue. Developed by Mark Sutherland of Wicker Park Apartments and designed by Milbury Architects, the project will contain a small ground-floor retail space, 8 one-bedroom rental units, and 6 studio apartments.
Since the corner site at 1162 N. Milwaukee Avenue is located less than 500 feet from the Division and Ashland Blue Line stop, Wicker Park Place qualifies as a transit-oriented development (TOD). The designation allows the skinny lot to be developed into multiple housing units without off-street parking.
The vacant site at 1162 N. Milwaukee Avenue has long eluded redevelopment due to parking minimums. The city's Transit-Oriented Development Ordinance allows the project to move forward without having to provide off-street parking for cars.Google Street View
The location is also within the Milwaukee Corridor ARO pilot zone which requires the developer to offer two apartments (15 percent of the total units) at below-market rates. The development will also provide streetscape improvements including new parkway trees and a public bike rack.
The Zoning Board of Appeals recently voted to approve a pair of variances (reductions in the rear setback and minimum lot area) for Wicker Park Place. According to the project's website, groundbreaking is scheduled for this summer, and delivery is expected in summer 2022.
