EAST VILLAGE — Tenants of a vintage apartment building anchored by a Starbucks at the corner of Division and Paulina streets were shocked by news that a modernization of the 120-year-old building would force them to find a new place to live.
Building owner John Kelly's zoning request to update the apartments above Starbuck's at 1701 W. Division St. and build an addition passed 17-0 with all members of neighborhood group East Village Association voting in favor of the plan on Monday night.
But Deanndra Leuver, who has lived in the building for a year, was opposed to the plan, which would carve out 14 two- and three-bedroom luxury apartments from the building's existing six units and another eight in an addition.
Leuver voiced her frustrations at the meeting in Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave.
"It's a beautiful building. It does not need to be rebuilt or remodeled," Leuver argued.
Leuver said that she and her neighbors were not aware of the plans until reading about the project on the East Village Association's blog.
Another resident of the building, who has lived there for 10 years, said that he too was shocked.
Early Tuesday, Kelly said that all of his tenants, many of whom live with roommates, are currently on month-to-month leases and the reason he had not informed them of the plan was because he was not sure if his zoning request would get approved.
"We have to go through zoning in January and then the Planning Department. Work could start in late spring at best," Kelly said, adding that he plans to give his tenants at least 90 days notice, so they can find new homes.
Kelly said that Starbucks would stay open during the renovations, which could take around six months.
"Most [of the tenants] are there because it's under market [rent] and the location is far superior, you can walk to the L," Kelly said.
Kelly who has owned the property since 1998, said that the building — one of few to still have fire escapes in the front — "needs to be brought into this century."
"The electricity and plumbing needs to be replaced. We are doing a massive renovation with an elevator," Kelly said.
Kelly said the average rent for the six apartments is somewhere near $1,700 a month and many units are inhabited by two or three people.
He acknowledged the present residents "will have a hard time finding a comparable rent."
"I've been the kind of landlord where I find good tenants I would rather keep them. The big guys would tell you, "You are crazy,' but the smaller guys, we understand," Kelly said.
When Kelly bought the building in 1998, Division Paulina Laundromat was where the Starbucks is today.
Kelly said the renovations will bring in-unit laundry and "no more fire escape" out front. Currently, there is no laundry in the building.
"It will be a really deluxe rental property going forward, rents could be between $2,500 and $3,500. But I need to see the finished product and what the competition is. Could it be very good, yes? But there is a lot of risk here, too," Kelly said.
See the plans by architects FitzGerald Associates, here:
