Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Developer Wants to Rehab Century-Old Division Street Storefront

 Plans concern the building that currently houses Noir Boutique and Pinky Nail Chicago.
Plans for 1726-32 W. Division St.
View Full Caption

WICKER PARK — A local developer wants to rehab a century-old building to help to make room for a project with about a dozen residential units and commercial space.

The building, a greystone at 1726-28 W. Division St., houses two businesses and four homes.

Steve Lipe, of Lipe Property Co., plans to preserve the building, create an addition to the back of the structure and build a four-story building on the vacant lot next door at 1732 W. Division St.

Emily Morris discusses the renovation project:

Lipe, who said his company is under contract to buy the property, would need a zoning change for the project to be approved. If he doesn't get the zoning change, Lipe said he could still build seven residential units and commercial space on the vacant lot.

The project is close enough to the Division Street Blue Line "L" stop to qualify as a transit-oriented development, a city designation that allows the project to be built with fewer parking spaces than a typical project.

Lipe's plan would create 13 residential units with seven parking spaces as well as 5,000 square feet of storefront space. Parking would be in the back of the building off an alley.

Early floor plans show homes ranging from about 445 square feet to 1,155 square feet of space.

Lipe Property Co. plans to restore the facade and add a new staircase and elevator as part of the rehab.

Noir, a clothing boutique, has been at 1726 W. Division St. since 1998, according to the store's Facebook page. There's also a Pinky nail salon at 1728 W. Division St. Owners of the two companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment about how the proposed project would affect their businesses.

Lipe met with the Wicker Park Committee's Preservation and Development group, which gave its approval last week on the condition that the group receive more detailed renderings and that the height of the rear addition be reduced.

If approved, the project should be ready by late 2015, though the storefront space could be available earlier, Lipe said.

Lipe said he does not have a tenant for the storefront and that the company has not decided whether to make the residences available as condos or as rented apartments.

1726-32 W. Division Early Plans