BUCKTOWN — Following the exit of Rockstar Pets, a 10,553-square-foot lot along the eastern end of The 606's Bloomingdale Trail is expected to go up for sale this week, according to the Bucktown land owner's real estate agent.
Listing the vacant land at 1801 N. Winnebago Ave. for his client, Jim Viola, Realtor Cesar Alvarez said on Monday that Viola will be asking roughly $2.3 million, as he had in a previous listing that described the land as "ripe for development."
Until Dec. 20, Rock Star Pets, a dog and cat daycare and boarding facility, occupied the spot. It reopened on Dec. 21st in Logan Square during the center's busiest week of the year, owner Elissa Ferguson said on Monday.
"We had 50 dogs staying with us and wanted to move just before Christmas. We were sad to leave; we were part of the community," said Ferguson, who opened Rockstar Pets with her business partner, Alex Rodriguez, in 2011.
Viola, Rockstar Pet's former landlord, has owned the land since 1987, county records show.
Viola could not be reached for comment on Monday,
Ferguson said Rockstar Pets' relocation was prompted by higher rent.
"We were not able to secure another lease. Our lease expired in July and we were going month-to-month and our rent was raised by $1,000," Ferguson said.
Ferguson said that she believes the land could become townhomes or single-family homes.
Alvarez confirmed that Viola's goal is to sell the land to a residential real estate developer, though if he cannot get a buyer he will rent out the spot again, possibly to another dog daycare, he said.
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