LINCOLN PARK — The huge Lincoln Common development in Lincoln Park has set a May 4 groundbreaking.
So don't call it the Children's Memorial Hospital development anymore. The ambitious development set for 2300 N. Lincoln Ave. is moving forward.
Developers Hines & McCaffrey Interests have joined on the project, which will create two luxury apartment buildings with 540 units on the 6-acre triangular lot formerly occupied by the hospital at Lincoln and Fullerton Avenue, as well as 60 low-rise condominiums, 160,000 square feet of retail space and 57,000 square feet of open area accessible to the public.
Also included in the project is Belmont Village, a seven-story, 120,000-square-foot senior residence with 150 assisted-living units, across the street on the former site of the Nellie Black Building, 700-710 W. Fullerton Ave.
Contractors announced in late February that the Children's Memorial demolition was complete, and Nellie Black followed a month ago.
The latest update says the city issued a building permit for Belmont Village March 24, with site work and grading to begin this month.
Total construction was originally projected to take 2½ years, at which point the Lincoln Common was expected to serve as the southern pole of a new development corridor running to Elevate Lincoln Park, which broke ground last November and has been moving on a faster schedule with the beneficial winter weather this year, with plans to be completed this fall.
The May 4 formal groundbreaking ceremony for the Lincoln Common will actually take place on the garage rooftop at 2330 N. Lincoln Ave. with a view of the site. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Ald. Michele Smith (43rd) are expected to attend, along with Pat Magoon, head of the Lurie Children's Hospital, which basically succeeded Children's Memorial with a shift to Streeterville. Kenneth Dotson, president of the Lincoln Central Association, is also expected.
Dan McCaffrey of McCaffrey Interests will act as master of ceremonies along with Kevin Shannahan representing Hines Interests.
