RIVER NORTH — The developer who wants to buy the Ed Debevic's diner in River North and replace it with a residential high-rise will present his plans to the public next month.
Chicago-based JDL Development will introduce its proposed 22-story, 253-unit tower at 640 N. Wells St. at a community meeting beginning at 6 p.m. May 12 on the third floor of Gino's East, 500 N. LaSalle St., according to a newsletter Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) sent constituents Wednesday. Reilly, whose ward oversees the pending development site, is hosting the meeting with the River North Residents Association.
If built, the tower would be the latest addition to a neighborhood swarming with new construction. The shuttered Gino's East across the street from Debevic's will be torn down for an apartment tower, and the closed Howard Johnson Inn at 720 N. LaSalle St. will make way for another. A proposed office-and-apartment project near the Merchandise Mart is also on the table in River North.
David Matthews discusses the proposed development:
JDL's proposed tower on the Debevic's site would also include street-level retail, an adjoining two-story commercial building, and 117 off-street parking spaces, according to the newsletter.
It's unclear whether the project would include rental apartments, condominiums, or both. JDL, led by president Jim Letchinger, is also planning a luxury condo tower at State and Walton streets in the Gold Coast.
Debevic's, open since 1984, is expected to reopen at a new Downtown location should the sale go through. Letchinger and Jeffrey Himmel of Bravo Restaurant Group, which owns Debevic's and Gino's East, did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
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