Sterling Bay’s four-year-long quest to develop two residential buildings, with affordable units, in Lincoln Park passed another hurdle Tuesday.
The developer’s contentious proposal at 1840 N. Marcey St. was back before the Zoning Committee and received the all clear after making changes to the project.
The updated plans include a reduced number of apartments and parking spaces, along with lowering the height for one of the buildings. The development will now have 590 apartments, instead of 615, and the parking spaces were scaled back from 360 to 147.
The altered plans came after Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd), whose ward includes the site, first opposed the project last year during a Plan Commission meeting. He expressed concern over the towers’ height and its potential to increase traffic.
On Tuesday, Waguespack asked for the committee’s support for the project, citing the high number of affordable units it would bring to the neighborhood, along with the reduced parking.
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), whose ward once included the Marcey Street site, also expressed his support.
“From the outset, there was some controversy about this project back when it was in my ward,” Hopkins said. “There’s a variety of opinions about this.”
The compromise also means Sterling Bay will no longer try to trigger a provision in the city’s Connected Communities Ordinance that automates Zoning Committee approval, immediately sending the project to a full City Council vote.
“We are pleased with the approval of 1840 N. Marcey, which was a result of extensive community input and engagement that enhanced this proposal to what it is today,” Fred Krol, principal for government affairs at Sterling Bay, said in a statement. “The advocacy by labor and affordable housing advocates helped to showcase the real strength and benefits of this $350 million investment. It is a win-win for Chicago, and we look forward to bringing the project to life.”
The project sits near the north branch of the Chicago River, across from Sterling Bay’s failed attempt to redevelop Lincoln Yards. In addition to housing, plans call for retail, green space, improved bike lanes and a new Divvy station. The development team in January told community members it’s proposing the CTA’s Clybourn bus line be reinstated.
The buildings would include one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with 20% of the apartments affordable for those making up to $47,100 a year. Only 13% of the housing stock in Lincoln Park is affordable, according to Sterling Bay.
The city in December designated the project as “inclusionary,” meaning it’s in line with the city’s goal to provide more affordable housing in areas near transit.
Neighbors like the Ranch Triangle Community Conservation Association previously balked at Sterling Bay’s plans. The association said it wasn’t opposed to creating affordable housing, but the density and scale of the buildings were out of character for Lincoln Park.
Housing advocates have rallied around the Marcey Street project and spoke in favor of it Tuesday. Coupled with the measure to expand accessory dwelling units citywide, many said the project is an example of how Chicago must do more to address its shortfall of 120,000 housing units.
Lincoln Park resident Joshua Chodor said renters represent the community’s next generation of leaders and their input is necessary in development conversations. Chodor has lived on Clybourn Avenue for five years and said his rent has increased every year.
“I joined the Ranch Triangle neighborhood association specifically because I heard about the 1840 Marcey project and thought that area specifically needed some revitalization,” Chodor said. “I am a neighbor who wants more neighbors.”