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Century-Old West Town Building To Become Apartments After $1.1 Million Sale

By Alisa Hauser | July 17, 2017 9:58am
 The former Chicago Avenue Discount store at 1637 W. Chicago Ave.
The former Chicago Avenue Discount store at 1637 W. Chicago Ave.
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Chad Tepley

EAST VILLAGE — Developers of the Eckhardt lofts above the former Rothschild liquors on Chicago Avenue have bought an old building up the street from that project, and are planning an extensive renovation with at least six duplex apartments.

"We’re excited about bringing another unique adaptive reuse product to join all of the continued activity along Chicago Avenue. People love the proximity to Downtown, Wicker Park, Bucktown and Fulton Market," the building's co-owner Chad Tepley said on Monday.

If everything goes as planned, the apartments in the former Chicago Avenue Discount building at 1637 W. Chicago Ave. will be ready by spring, Tepley said.

Chicago Avenue Discount, a clothing store in business for more than 30 years, closed a few months ago.

The building, just west of the Ashland and Chicago Avenues intersection, sold for $1.1 million in late June to a venture headed by CDT Realty Corporation and North Park Ventures, records show.

The existing two-story building offers 4,000 square feet of ground level retail space and a second floor that is currently vacant storage space. 

"We plan to renovate the existing building and construct a vertical addition for duplex loft apartments above the retail space with a parking garage in the rear," Tepley said.

Tepley said the number of units and bedroom counts are still being finalized, but there will be a minimum of six apartments offered — a mix of one- and two-bedroom units.

The apartments will feature tall ceilings, a staircase inside each unit and large outdoor decks in the back.

An addition would add a third story to the existing 2-story building.

"There is a real demand for people living in a building with some historical aspects. Architecturally. it's a cool building, with arched windows on the second floor," Tepley said.

No tenant has been tapped yet to occupy the ground floor and basement. Tepley said fitness or a restaurant concept could work in the space.

In addition to the nearby Eckhardt Lofts at 1532 W. Chicago Ave., CDT Realty Corporation and North Park Ventures also has an eight-apartment plus retail project underway at 415 W. North Ave in Old Town and three apartments coming to 1342 N. Cleveland Ave., also in Old Town.