4640 N. Western gets updated design

Developer Macon Construction recently presented an updated design for 4640 N. Western to the community. Currently occupied by three existing buildings, the site spans from the CTA Western Brown Line tracks down to W. Eastwood Ave. The four-story building will be retained and incorporated into the new construction, while the other two buildings will be demolished.

Designed by Hirsch MPG, the proposed mixed-use building would stand six stories tall, topping out at 91 feet tall. With 74 units in the building, the unit mix has shifted slightly, set to include 8 studios, 28 one-beds, and 38 two-beds. The development will meet the ARO by providing 15 of the apartments as affordable, including 2 of the studios, 6 of the one-beds, and 7 of the two-beds. As part of the plans, residents would have access to a shared rooftop deck and dog run.

On the ground floor, two live/work units will face N. Western just south of the CTA L tracks, with a two-bedroom unit behind it facing the space underneath the L tracks. The retail space has been reduced in size from 4,600 square feet to 3,900 square feet and another live/work unit has been added along W. Eastwood Ave. The residential lobby will face W. Eastwood Ave and parking for 10 cars will be provided along the alley. 74 bike parking spaces will be available, and the developer added a bike maintenance space upon request of the community.

The design of the overall building has undergone changes since the initial announcement of the proposal back in April. A consistent stone base wraps the ground floor before switching to a brick facade up above. The massing has multiple insets along the face of the building to break up the scale and the corner space on the sixth floor was removed to bring down the scale of the corner. The building is further refined with larger windows, a two-tone brick treatment, and masonry stone detailing.

In terms of sustainability, the development will meet the new energy code, provide EV charging, utilize a high-efficiency MEP system, and provide electric appliances in all of the units. 

With the site currently zoned B3-3 and B3-2, the developer is looking to get a unified B3-5 before proceeding with construction. If approvals go to plan, construction could start as soon as Spring 2024 and wrap up in Summer 2025 after 15 months of construction.