WEST LOOP — The Carmichael's Steakhouse building, a mainstay in the West Loop for nearly two decades, is no more.
The building, located at 1052 W. Monroe St., was razed this week. The Carmichael's site has been vacant since the restaurant closed in March after 18 years in business.
The demolition work is being completed ahead of Michigan Avenue Real Estate Group's plans to develop 120 apartments on the site in the West Loop. While the developer has secured permits for demolition, the eventual development on the site will require a zoning change, according to Ald. Danny Solis (25th).
A group of trees that lined a courtyard next to the building were cut down last week. Before Carmichael's Steakhouse closed, a large landscaped courtyard on the private property was open to the public.
Developer Tom Meador said the group wanted to demolish the 68-year-old Carmichael's building right away because squatters have been setting up camp there.
The courtyard served as a meeting place where many area residents would walk their dogs, and neighbors previously submitted a petition to Solis asking that the existing green space at the site be preserved.
Despite neighbors' requests, Meador confirmed this month that the green space would go, and the developer instead plans to develop 11,000 square feet of new open space at the site.
If the development is approved and building permits are ultimately issued, Meador estimates the new buildings would be completed in a little more than a year.
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