RIVER NORTH — The developer who wants to convert the historic Bush Temple of Music into apartments cleared a key city hurdle Thursday.
The Chicago Plan Commission unanimously approved Thursday a plan by Chicago-based Cedar Street Cos. to convert the landmarked River North building, 800 N. Clark St., into 101 apartments. The commission also approved plans for a new 15-story, 129-unit apartment tower Cedar Street wants to build directly north of the temple.
Built in 1901, the temple was the headquarters of the Bush and Gerts Piano Company, one of Chicago's biggest piano manufacturers, back when the city was "the piano manufacturing center of the world" in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, according to the city. Designed by architect J.E.O. Pridmore, the six-story temple is a rare remaining example of a French Renaissance-Revival building here, and was declared a city landmark in 2001.
Cedar Street, which controls the FLATS Chicago apartment development company, paid $12.5 million in 2014 for the temple, according to Crain's. A venture led by Cedar Street also owns the two buildings it plans to demolish so it can build the 15-story, accompanying tower next to the Bush Temple. Cedar Street plans to build so-called "micro apartments" ranging between 360 and 535 square feet in the development. Monthly rent would cost between $1,300 and $1,400.
A sketch of the proposed Cedar Street tower next to the Bush Temple [City of Chicago]
Between the two buildings, the project would include 230 apartments, 144 bicycle spaces, and ground-floor commercial space. The project would only include 15 parking spaces for cars, but the development qualifies as a"transit-oriented development" because it sits along the Chicago Avenue and Clark Street bus routes, and a few blocks from the Chicago Brown and Red Line stations.
Mark Heffron, a managing director at Cedar Street, said the developer will contribute $1.3 million to the city's affordable housing trust in lieu of including affordable units in the project.
FLATS, best known for its prolific apartment conversions of vintage North Side buildings, also plans apartments for a River North office building at 676 N. LaSalle St., a project that would displace the Blue Frog karaoke bar. FLATS is also pursuing developments in University Village and the Near West Side.
The Bush Temple project still requires final approval from the Chicago City Council. A Cedar Street spokeswoman declined to comment.
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