Sterling Bay's 1840 N. Marcey rejected by Committee on Zoning

The Committee on Zoning has voted to reject Sterling Bay’s proposed two-building mixed-use development at 1840 N. Marcey in a final vote that occurred at the end of a five-hour meeting after the item was initially deferred earlier in the meeting. 

Located near Lincoln Yards, the project site is a long, rectangular site bound by N. Clifton Ave to the north, N. Kingsbury St to the west, N. Marcey St to the east, and W. Wisconsin St to the south. Sterling Bay received approval from the Chicago Plan Commission for the project back in June of this year despite Alderman Scott Waguespack’s opposition.

Since then, the project has been stuck in the Zoning Committee while the developer worked with the alderman to address concerns. At the time of the Plan Commission hearing, the developer outlined how the south building’s height was reduced by 20 feet and the north building was cut by 50 feet, the parking count was reduced from 360 spaces down to 275 spaces, and the retail space was reduced from 17,600 square feet to 9,600 square feet all in an effort to address the alderman’s concerns. The project is also committing to funding infrastructure improvements nearby including traffic signal upgrades, installation of bike lanes, and pedestrian safety measures.

During the Committee on Zoning meeting, a statement from the alderman outlined his ongoing concerns regarding the density of the project and its use of the Affordable Illinois program that would provide the developer with tax breaks for including 20% affordable housing on site within the building. Alderman Waguespack’s statement did not include an explicit recommendation to approve or deny the project, and the Committee on Zoning voted to defer the proposal.

At the end of the meeting, after the developer and zoning attorney had already left, Alderman Beale opted to bring the item back up and rescind the deferral to force a vote on the project. If the item would not be voted on by December 25th, six months after Plan Commission approval, Sterling Bay could request a Inclusionary Housing designation from the Department of Housing to extend the consideration of the item to undergo more time in the community process before ultimately forcing a favorable vote over any decision from the Committee on Zoning. The developer and zoning attorney rushed back to City Hall to avoid rejection, but the few committee members left in the chamber ultimately voted to reject the project, dealing a blow to the project that may lead towards killing the development.

A path forward for the project has become much harder, but Alderman Burnett could still bring the item for a vote in City Council where a majority vote could still defer the item or approve the item, overriding the rejection recommendation that was voted on by the Committee on Zoning.