UPTOWN — The long-vacant lots at Clark Street and Lawrence Avenue soon will be home to four commercial properties and 19 "elaborate" condos with private yards and parking.
Developer Alan Candea said the three-bedroom, two-bath condos would be ideal for small families and create a "single-family-home feel" with private outdoor areas accessible through living rooms.
"If you look at single-family homes in that area, they're way, way expensive," Candea said. "We're trying to tap into the middle class."
The units — which range from 1,500 to 1,800 square feet — will cost anywhere from $450,000 to $650,000, Candea said.
Backyard and rooftop lots will feature artificial turf and outdoor fireplaces, the developer said, and range from 400 to 2,400 square feet. Each building will have an elevator and up to two parking spots per unit.
Candea called the condos, at 4800 and 4806 N. Clark St., "the most elaborate units we've ever designed."
Construction is slated to begin this fall and should be completed by summer 2015.
At ground level, the building will feature four retail units. These can be bought individually or combined to create larger businesses, Candea said.
While it's still too early to know which businesses will buy lots, 47th Ward Ald. Ameya Pawar told constituents on Facebook: "We did say no to drive-thru fast food restaurants and stand-alone convenience stores on the site."
Pawar said the corner lots have "long been an eyesore."
He credited the new Mariano's, at 1800 W. Lawrence Ave., and the "great things happening at McPherson" with attracting the development.
The alderman also said the project would not receive city money.
Candea said his company, Candea Development, is pushing to make the corner of Clark Street and Lawrence Avenue "the official entry of Andersonville."
The company plans to erect a limestone gateway that says "Andersonville Gateway," he said.
