WEST RIDGE — Newly released renderings of the combination public library/senior housing building slated for West Ridge give a glimpse into the future of Western Avenue.
Designed by architecture firm Perkins + Will, the renderings showcase a design similar to those the company has released in the past for the collaborative project, which is a partnership between the Chicago Housing Authority and Chicago Public Library.
The building would be feature a 16,000-square-foot public library on the ground floor, which would accommodate a lobby, community areas, individual meeting and reading rooms, an early childhood area, space for school-age children, teen and media centers, areas for adults and green areas.
A color scheme includes shades of orange, green, brown and aqua blue.
Above the library will be three floors of affordable housing for low-income seniors 62 or older managed by Evergreen Real Estate Group.
The plan now calls for 44 one-bedroom apartments, up from 30 in May, as well as 40 parking spots, also a boost from earlier estimates. Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th) told constituents another 30 off-site parking spaces had also been identified.
"This new development will offer beautiful new homes for our community’s senior citizens, so they can live with dignity and enjoy all the amenities of the new library and the neighborhood," she wrote to residents in a recent email.
"The building design is beautiful and will help make the 50th Ward a destination for bibliophiles from all over the city."
In May, concept drawings matching those released recently drew a mixed reaction from community members, with some calling the structure an "ultra-modern eyesore" and wanting a more classic style, and others praising it as a potential "landmark."
Check out the renderings below.
Designs by Perkins + Will
