The site is the former Columbus Hospital overlooking Lincoln Park, zoned R-7. That zoning would allow for nearly 1,000 units, developers note. Instead, they are now proposing 350 units in a 790,000-sf building on Lakeview Avenue, plus 32 town homes and two parking structures on the remaining two-thirds of the site.
"Our original plan included fewer dwelling units than permitted under existing zoning and we have scaled-down the proposal since then, in response to community concerns," notes Theodore Novak, attorney for American Invsco.
Neighbors worry about increased traffic in one of the most congested residential neighborhoods in the city.
"It is our professional opinion that the proposed residential development will not have an adverse traffic impact on the surrounding community," says Neil Kenig, principal with KLOA Inc., a traffic engineering consulting firm. "The proposed number of dwelling units will have significantly less impact than that of the existing hospital that once operated on the site."
American Invsco plans to buy the hospital from Catholic Health Partners. The condominium developers have hired preservationist Chris Botti to make sure a 46-year-old, historic chapel built as a memorial to Mother Cabrini is intact during and after construction. The first US saint opened Columbus Hospital in 1903.
"The sale of the Columbus Hospital property is essential to the well-being of the charitable mission of Catholic Health Partners," said Matt Maguire, CEO of Catholic Health Partners. "As a longtime member of this community, Catholic Health Partners knows that the residents care deeply about the futureof their neighborhood. We believe that American Invsco's proposed planreflects a respect for the interests of the community and a recognition of thesite's history."
Award-winning architect Lucien Lagrange is designing the project. "This development will meet or exceed the quality of my recent designs including, the Park Tower on Chicago and Michigan Avenues, and 840 Lake Shore Drive," Lagrange says.
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