Alderman Vasquez announces support for development at 2648 W. Lawrence

40th Ward Alderman Vaquez has announced his support for the proposed mixed-use development at 2648 W. Lawrence. Planned by MLV Properties, the project site is located at the northeast corner of W. Lawrence Ave and N. Washtenaw Ave. The property is currently occupied by a one-story commercial building with surface parking that will be demolished to make way for the new proposal. 

Designed by Red Architects, the project will take shape as a five-story mixed-use building reaching approximately 58 feet tall. The building will feature 2,914 square feet of retail space, 37 residential units, 13 car parking spaces, and 40 bike parking spaces.

On the ground floor, the building’s frontage on W. Lawrence Ave will be occupied by the 2,914 square feet of retail space and access to the building’s bike storage room with space for 40 bikes. The N. Washtenaw Ave frontage will have the retail space wrapping the corner, the residential entrance to the north of the retail, and a four-bedroom unit occupying the remaining street frontage. The back of the ground floor will have a parking garage with 13 parking spaces that will be accessed from the alley.

On the upper floors, each floor will have nine units, with five one-beds and four two-beds per floor. The project’s total unit mix will include 20 one-beds, 16 two-beds, and one four-bedroom unit. To meet ARO requirements, 7 of the apartments will be set aside as affordable. 

As part of securing the alderman’s approval, the developer has updated the design from being electric-ready to 100% electric, incorporated the bird-friendly ordinance requirements, adjusted the retail space to be compatible with black iron to allow for a restaurant tenant, and a mural will be added to the building facing Gross Park.

To allow for the scope of the project, the developer is seeking to rezone the site from B3-2 to B2-3. With 40th Ward Alderman Vasquez’s approval secured, the project can seek final approvals from the Committee on Zoning and City Council. The developer is targeting delivery for Q4 2028.