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New Apartment Complex Across From Wrigley Gets OK From City Commission

By Serena Dai | October 17, 2013 3:55pm | Updated on October 17, 2013 4:02pm
 Developers of the long-stalled Addison Park on Clark project hope to gain city approval in fall 2013 for an adjusted plan with 148 apartments, 493 parking spaces and nearly 170,000 square feet of retail space.
Addison Park on Clark Renderings
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CITY HALL — The long-stalled Addison Park on Clark project moved forward Thursday as a city commission approved a new plan to build apartments just south of Wrigley Field instead of a hotel.

The city's Plan Commission unanimously approved M&R Development's $140 million plan to build an 8-story mixed-used building with 148 rental units, nearly 170,000 square feet of retail and 493 parking spaces.

Ald. Tom Tunney (44th), who is on the commission, abstained from the vote.

The development on Addison Street between Clark Street and Sheffield Avenue will also feature a rooftop pool and sun terrace for the building's residents and a health club. Tony Rossi, with M&R Development, previously told neighbors they are negotiating with XSport Fitness.

It will be 93 feet tall, lining up closely with the height of Wrigley Field.

The plan must still be approved by the zoning committee and full City Council in the next two months. If the effort is OKd, construction is expected to begin next year.

Further details of the development can be seen here.

It's the second time developers were in front of the city's Plan Commission. The commission approved a planned development in 2010 that included a hotel, but that idea fell through due to foreclosure and failed financing.

After the Ricketts family, owners of the Cubs, announced they plan to build a boutique Sheraton Hotel on the McDonald's lot, Addison Park on Clark developers decided to change course, Rossi has said.

Rossi is still negotiating with tenants. Starbucks, 1023 W. Addison St., has said it wants to return and other tenants will likely include bars and restaurant, Rossi said.

Commissioner Linda Searl expressed concern that so many more parking spaces were being added to a development so close to the Addison Red Line "L" stop and high-congestion Wrigley Field. "Are we causing more traffic problems than we already have?" she asked.

In September, the City Council passed an ordinance that allowed less parking for a new development if it was near public transportation, to make the city more walkable.

But Rossi and Tunney both said more parking was necessary both for the health club, which would need more parking, and that existing surface lots would be gone after the development is finished. 

Parking has increasingly become an issue in the ward because "most of our parking has been lost to development," Tunney said.

"There is momentum to reduce parking around train stations, but not when they have an unparked stadium," he said. "You gotta take all this into consideration."

Financing is not fully in place yet, according to Gary Klompmaker, associate principal at architecture firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz.

Rossi plans to coordinate with any Wrigley Field development, to finish the retail portion first and then focus on the interior developments, he said.