Developer plans residential conversion at 153 W. Ohio

Chicago developer Senco Properties is planning to convert the five-story brick commercial building at 153 W. Ohio into residential units. Located in River North the building sits midblock between N. LaSalle St and N. Wells St. The developer’s intentions were recently announced via Alderman Reilly’s newsletter to constituents. 

With FitzGerald in charge of the architecture, the building will be infilled with 35 residential units. The newly renovated building will contain a mix of 5 studios, 11 one-beds, 6 one-bed pluses, 11 two-beds, and 2 three-beds. With zero parking in the building, residents will have access to 38 bike parking spaces in the basement. 

While extensive interior work will be done, the exterior will see minimal changes to the exterior entryway and rooftop, with the building height remaining unchanged. The top floor units will be the only units to have balconies, while all residents will have access to a fitness center in the basement.  The ground floor will have the residential lobby and mailroom as well as two studios, a one-bed plus and a three-bed unit. 

Since the building will not be expanded, the plan will comply with the existing DX-7 zoning. To allow for the residential use on the ground floor, the developer will need approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Due to the lack of parking, a variation will also be required to waive the parking requirement for the transit-served location. Approvals from the City Council will not be required.