City planners OK West Loop office building

The city’s planning agency Thursday approved a 15-story office building in the West Loop and three residential or hotel projects on the North Side, a sign developers continue to bet on expanding demand despite the pandemic-related pause in many deals.

The Chicago Plan Commission endorsed a 15-story office building planned for 609 W. Randolph St., where it will replace a small lot used for parking.

The architecture by Antunovich Associates picks up design cues from older buildings in the area. The developers, a partnership based in New Jersey, plan to preserve a building at 601 W. Randolph St.

An attorney for the developers said the $25 million project will support 250 construction jobs and a contribution of about $1 million into the city’s Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, which supports commercial improvements on the South and West sides.

The vote sends the matter to the full City Council for a committee hearing and final action.

The commission also approved:

• A seven-story, 79-unit residential or hotel building at 1623 N. Halsted St. The property is near the Brown Line and across the street from Steppenwolf Theatre and now has four two- to three-story buildings. The approval came despite neighbors’ complaints a hotel would create too much congestion.

The project’s backer, James Letchinger, CEO of JDL Development, said the building is likely to be residential, with a hotel unlikely due to market conditions. Letchinger said he wanted flexibility in the zoning to include rooms for long-term stays. “We did want it there in case it became available in the future,” he said.

• A nine-story building at 862 N. Orleans St. proposed by Praia Management Group that calls for 66 hotel rooms. The site is an empty lot.

• A five-story, 78-unit courtyard-style residential building on an open site at 5440 N. Sheridan Road. The developer is an affiliate of Cedar St. Cos.

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