ROGERS PARK — Wheels are in motion to begin constructing the six-story, 145-room hotel at the southwest corner of Albion Avenue and Sheridan Road in Rogers Park that will be owned by Loyola University and managed by the Atira Hotels chain.
In March, the city's Zoning Board of Appeals approved special-use permits for the Hampton Inn hotel proposed by Loyola University, and shortly thereafter Ald. Joe Moore (49th) announced his support for the hotel before the board.
Records show that in April, the city's planning commission also gave its stamp of approval to the project as required by the Lakefront Protection Ordinance due to its proximity to the lake, one of the final sign-offs needed for work to begin.
Linze Rice with the latest on the proposed Loyola hotel:
In mid-June, the City Council approved measures to change a stretch of Albion between the alley at 1218 W. Albion Ave. and Sheridan Road from a one-way street headed east with three-hour parking from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on both sides to a two-way block with parking continued on the block's south side, but making the north side of the block a no-parking tow/loading zone.
In late July, Moore submitted proposals to the city's Committee on Transportation and Public Way to install two flag poles on the property that would fly above the sidewalk.
Building records show the site has undergone a series of inspections and approvals throughout the summer, with the most recent permit issued Aug. 4 for the hotel's foundation — which will also include retail space on the ground floor. Loyola University intends to maintain ownership of the first-floor commercial areas on Sheridan Road.
The project has been in the works for years, ever since the empty lot at Albion and Sheridan drew the attention of developers.
The hotel, with its lobby off Albion Avenue, would be managed by Atira, which also manages eight other hotels in the Chicago area.
The north side of the building, along Albion, will extend six stories to 77 feet, while the east side along Sheridan only extends five stories.
Sanjeev Misra, Atira's president, had said the southwest corner of the building would only extend one story and would be capped with a green roof. The roof of the fifth story on Sheridan Road would include a terrace and event areas with lake views, he said.
The hotel would be categorized as "limited service," Misra said, and would not include a restaurant or bar. There would, however, be a fitness center and a kiosk for customers to buy pre-packaged food.
At a community meeting in January, many attendees supported the hotel, while some criticized the plan.
If all continues as planned, Atira said in March it expects to open the hotel by late summer 2016.
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