Top 5 West Town Real Estate Neighborhood News Stories - March 2020
/1) A Driving Range Proposed for Busy Intersection Near Chicago River
The intersection at Elston Ave and Damen Ave is making way for more recreation. Once the site of the Vienna Beef factory, the landmark space at 2501 N. Damen Ave., is undergoing an approval process to become a driving range. Drive Shack, Inc., as the range will be called, cleared another layer of approval in early February when Chicago’s Zoning Committee voted unanimously in its favor. The project's specs include a 102-bay, climate-controlled driving range. The team behind Drive Shack, Inc. has, of course, faced concerns from neighbors about congestion, noise and traffic in the area. The site is close to the Midtown Athletic Club and Hotel and could add some more activity to the area outside of shopping. According to the Department of Planning and Development the project meets the desired plans of the city to convert industrial sites along the river into spaces for mixed use development. Barring any major obstacles the range could open in fall 2021.
2) Iconic 50’s Ukrainian Village Car Lot to Become 17-Unit Condo Building
Car Town Luxury Condos West-Town
Out with the old and in with the new seems to be what’s taking place along Western Ave. The iconic car lot, Car Town at 848-850 N. Western Ave., which dates back to the 1950s, will be demolished to make way for a new condo building.
There are 17 luxury condos in the development plan for the Ukrainian Village site, each with its own balcony.
The building will also feature a 4,500 square feet ground-floor retail space. The selling price for these condos will start in the mid-$500,000s.
3) International Flavors Mark New West Town Neighborhood Dining
Chicago is definitely a city where you can eat your way “around the world,” trying new flavors at every turn. West Town neighborhood dining continues to diversify and here’s a collection of new dining spots you’ll want to check out:
Lao Peng You - West Town
Lao Peng You (2020 W. Chicago. Ave.), which opened in Ukrainian Village in fall 2019, is Chinese restaurant, whose name means “old friend,” and whose menu features primarily noodles and dumplings. The restaurant is the passion project of brothers Daniel and Eric “Chops” Wat, who grew up in Chicago. While having spent time working in the restaurant industry, particularly in the Pilsen neighborhood, this is the first restaurant venture for the brothers. It was inspired by their grandma who taught them how to make dumplings at an early age.
In light of the latest developments on COVID-19 and the recent restaurant and bar ban for dine-in service, only temporary curb-side pick up will be available from Lao Peng You. Check their website for further details.
Another husband-and-wife restaurant project graces Chicago’s dining scene. Tim Flores and Genie Kwon are the couple behind Kasama, 1001 N. Winchester Avenue, a soon-to-open cafe and bakery. Both husband and wife are industry veterans having worked at high-profile restaurants like Eleven Madison Park in New York City and Michelin-starred Oriole and Mako here in Chicago. The restaurant's name is a Tagalog word that means “together.” The restaurant will be a daytime cafe serving French pastries in the morning and then Filipino-American dishes for its lunchtime and dinner day-parts - namely sandwiches for lunch and more creative dishes for dinner. The couple hopes to open their doors to the West Town neighborhood and diners across the city in late spring 2020.
Jeff & Judes West Town Pastries
A “Jew-ish” deli is planned for the West Town neighborhood later this year. Jeff & Judes, 1024 N. Western Ave, is baker Ursula Siker’s attempt to bring a deli to Chicago like the ones she enjoyed while growing up in Los Angeles. Some may know Siker as the baker at Hoosier Mama Pie Company. The deli will feature a patty melt, chicken and dumplings, matzah ball soup and even breakfast dishes like Cinnamon roll challah French toast. In the lead up to the restaurant’s opening, Jeff & Judes has appeared at different pop-ups throughout the city. Follow its progress on Instagram, @jeffandjudes.
Split-Rail, a popular West Town restaurant, opened its lower level bar, Dorothy (2500 W. Chicago Ave), in February. The basement bar’s decor is inspired by the mood, colors and plush seating of the 70s. Its drink list is a combination of cocktails, wines and craft beers, one of which is brewed for the restaurant with Dark Matter coffee.
Take out and delivery will be offered at Split Rail for the foreseeable future in the wake of COVID-19. Check the restaurant’s website for more details.
4) Shuttered School Transforms to Luxury Apartments
Peabody School Condos West Town
A number of adaptive reuse projects have marked Chicago’s development over the last decade or more. This time the former West Town school, Peabody Elementary, 1444 W. Augusta Blvd., will be turned into a four-story, 23-unit building offering luxury apartments. The design concept will ultimately convert one classroom into an apartment.
The developer behind this West Town housing development project is Svigos Asset Management, which is also responsible for the recent conversion of the former Motley Elementary School, 739 N. Ada St, to a 34-unit apartment building. These may serve as a suitable option to those who be looking at housing in the West Town neighborhood but may not be in the market to buy a home just yet.
5) Stanley’s Market Finds a Buyer After Nearly a Year Due to Lincoln Yards
Stanley’s Lincoln Yards
