Zoning proposals approved by council
by BRIAN NADIG
The Chicago City Council at its Dec. 13 meeting approved zoning proposals for the building of a two-flat in Portage Park, the construction of a 24-unit apartment building in Mayfair and the opening of a car repair shop in Albany Park.
Plans call for a 3,905-square-foot lot at 5907 W. Waveland Ave. in the 36th Ward to be rezoned from RS-2 to RT-3.5 to allow for two living units inside a partially constructed structure on the site. Only one residential unit would be allowed under RS-2.
In 2016 inspectors issued a stop work order and revoked a previously issued permit for the property because the construction of the building had begun without the proper permit, according to the city Department of Buildings’ Web site.
A foot of concrete reportedly had been poured over the top of the existing foundation and corrections had to be made to the foundation walls, according to the department.
Alderman Gilbert Villegas’ policy director Justin Heath said that the previous building on the site was a legal nonconforming two-flat and that the zoning change is required to allow the new building also to have two units. The project will include two on-site parking spaces.
Meanwhile, an 18,853-square-foot property at 4346-58 W. Lawrence Ave. was rezoned from B3-1 to B3-3 to allow for the construction of a four-story, 52-foot-tall building with 6,209 square feet of ground-floor retail space and 24 living units on the upper floors. There also will be a 26-space rear garage that will be accessible from Kostner Avenue.
Currently the property consists of a one-story commercial structure and a parking lot. The project, whose zoning applicant was Chicago Progress LLC, was well received at a community meeting hosted last year by Alderman Margaret Laurino (39th).
Also in the 39th Ward, the site of a former shoe store at 4737-39 N. Pulaski Road is being rezoned from B1-1 to C2-1 to allow for the existing building there to be converted into an auto repair shop with two vehicle lifts and four interior parking spaces. The new zoning also allows for the sale of used cars.
The applicant for the zoning application was Batool Auto Inc. The site is located next to an auto body shop.