Mixed-use development at 2919 W. Lawrence presented to community

A mixed-use development at 2919 W. Lawrence has been presented to the local community. Planned by MAS Ventures LLC and Malek Abdulsamad, the project site is a trapezoidal parcel across the street from Ronan Park. The property currently has a surface parking lot and a one-story masonry building.

Designed by Wight & Company, the new mixed-use development will result in a five-story structure set to top out at approximately 61 feet. The project will deliver 40 new residential units, with 32 of them market-rate and the other eight units set aside as affordable. The unit mix will include 7 studios, 15 one-beds, and 18 two-beds. 

On the ground floor, the building will have two retail spaces totaling approximately 9,300 square feet, with the residential entry in the middle. Parking for 40 bikes will be included in a bike room inside the building. Residents will also have access to a fifth-floor lounge and outdoor deck that will have views north toward Ronan Park and the Chicago River.

The building’s design will consist of a corrugated metal panel facade with light bronze siding over the floor slabs and black window frames. The metal paneling on the retail podium will be a darker bronze. A central staircase at the center of the building’s front facade will be clad in glass and will feature a mural.

With sustainability in mind, the project has been designed to meet the city’s sustainability requirements, to earn Energy Star, and to earn Zero Energy Ready Homes standard. The all-electric building will have no gas cooking or heating and will instead feature a VRF heating system and will be solar-ready.

 A surface parking lot on the western side of the site will have 19 parking spaces, including 2 handicapped and 2 EV charging spaces. This portion of the site cannot be built on because of a MWRD easement for deep tunnel sewer lines that run through the property. Setback 30 feet from W. Lawrence Ave, the parking lot will use permeable pavers and will be wrapped with landscaping. The landscaping along the street will become a small public space with benches and landscaping planters along W. Lawrence Ave.

To allow for the scope of the development, the developers are looking to rezone the site from C1-2 to C1-3. Before heading to City Hall for approvals from the Committee on Zoning and City Council, Alderman Andre Vasquez of the 40th Ward will need to approve of the project.

Residents asked a series of questions during the meeting. When asked whether the bike parking could accommodate larger cargo and ebikes, the developer said they can look into it with the architecture team. A resident asked if they have a retailer planned for the commercial space, and the development team said they are in conversation with a food and beverage retailer but did not comment on who it was.

Some neighbors questioned the parking ratio and the development team outlined how the TOD ordinance limits them to 50% of the unit count and research shows that buildings that provide limited parking attract fewer cars. The site is located within 4 blocks of the Francisco CTA Brown Line stop along with access to a number of bus and bicycle routes.

At the end of the meeting, numerous residents on the Zoom call made favorable comments expressing their support for the development. The developers said that they hope to get through the zoning approval process and secure permits to begin construction within the first half of 2024. Construction is expected to last 12-18 months.