Preliminary plans for mixed-use development at Six Corners Sears site
by BRIAN NADIG
The Six Corners site of Sears at 4730 W. Irving Park Road would be transformed into a “vibrant retail and residential destination” under preliminary plans announced Wednesday afternoon, May 16.
The Highland Park-based Tucker Development has entered into a partnership with Seritage Growth Properties, which has secured redevelopment rights to many Sears’ properties, to bring a mixed-used development to the Six Corners site and the former Sears store at 1601 N. Harlem Ave. in Galewood.
The Six Corners store, which was built in 1938, is scheduled to close this summer.
Tucker built the Marketplace at Six Corners shopping center at 4660 W. Irving Park Road in the mid-1990s.
The redevelopment of the Sears on Irving Park Road is in its design phase, but preliminary plans call for retail and residential components to the project. “As we advance our plans, we look forward to working in close collaboration with the city and local stakeholders,” said Seritage vice president of development Jeff Martin.
Alderman John Arena’s chief of staff Owen Brugh said that redevelopment plans for the site have not been submitted to the alderman and that it appears the project is in its early stages.
“We are eager to see what they envision for the site, and we continue to encourage them to take guidance from the Six Corners Master Plan guidelines,” Brugh said.
In the event that Sears were to close, the master plan calls for any new development to include transparent windows and attractive window signage along the street level on Cicero Avenue and Irving Park Road. The plan also encourages the restoration of the original two-story window bays of the Sears store and the rehabilitation of the building to make it more attractive.
Across from the Sears site is a vacant parcel at 4747 W. Irving Park Road, where redevelopment plans have stalled.
center with rooftop parking on the site, but the developer, Clark Street Real Estate, also has considered the construction of a10-story senior housing complex with ground-floor commercial uses for the site.
Brugh said that Clark Street has been “aggressively marketing” the site to prospective retailers.
In addition, the nearby Peoples Gas facility at 3955 N. Kilpatrick Ave. could be sold for redevelopment in a couple of years when the utility company relocates to 4025 W. Peterson Ave. in Sauganash.
