Former Sears at Six Corners being renovated, but no details on overall redevelopment

by BRIAN NADIG

The former Sears Department Store at 4730 W. Irving Park Road apparently is being reused as part of a yet-to-be-announced redevelopment project for the site.

“Everyone loves (interior) demo day. The Novak team is hard at work to renovate the 81-year-old Art Deco building at Chicago’s Six Corners, previously occupied by Sears. Big things to come,” Novak Construction, which owns the property, said in a recent Tweet.

Details of the site’s redevelopment plan have not been released. In recent weeks crews have been gutting portions of the building.

Alderman James Gardiner (45th) said that any proposal for the site will be subject to public input and that he is looking for “a community-based development that will improve the walkability of Six Corners” and enhance the overall community. He added that Novak has not presented him with a proposal.

The site’s previous owner had proposed putting 434 residential units and a health club on the site, but Gardiner has said that it is unlikely Novak would stick with that plan.

Preservation Chicago has urged that the former department store be saved from the wrecking ball and that all or part of the building be reused in the site’s redevelopment.

(photo by William Swanson)