CHICAGO TRIBUNE
November 15, 2016
CAITLIN MULLEN
After a groundbreaking Nov. 10, a luxury mid-rise condo building within the Hemingway District is expected to be completed by early 2018.
District House, which will occupy the northwest corner of Lake Street and Euclid Avenue where Tasty Dog used to operate, will feature 28 residences, with retail on the ground floor.
Demolition was set to begin this week on the Tasty Dog building. The $18.7 million condo project, approved by village trustees in July, is being developed by Campbell Coyle and Ranquist Development Group, which has similar projects in Chicago neighborhoods, according to a news release.
With 4,500 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor of District House, it's likely that'll be split into two different units, said John Lynch, executive director of the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation.
"I think they'd like to target some kind of food or cafe for one of the spaces," Lynch said, adding that it's fair to say there's been some interest shown in the commercial space.
Amid a wave of new high-rise residency buildings in the village, Lynch said District House's design sets it apart. A collaboration between The Miller Hull Partnership, based in Seattle, and Northworks Architects of Chicago, the mid-rise building "is a modern affirmation of the principles of the prairie school of architecture. Deep projecting floor overhangs emphasize the horizontal while enhancing energy efficiency," said Brian Court, partner at Miller Hull, in a news release.
"This is sort of the raising the bar, architecturally," Lynch said, adding that it's "some of the most dynamic the village has seen."
With condos ranging in price from $550,000 to $800,000 and units — all offering three bedrooms — featuring several different layouts, Lynch said the condos will appeal to a segment of the market they feel is underserved, like families or empty nesters who still desire space for visitors.
Most condo stock in Oak Park consists of rentals within vintage buildings, he pointed out.
"In the for-sale market, there's really nothing like this in Oak Park," Lynch said. It's also not something seen in other suburbs, he added, as it's more in line with the type of modern developments seen in Chicago.
And interest seems to be there, Lynch said, noting 11 of the units have sold so far, which led to the groundbreaking.
Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb said the village couldn't be more excited about District House because it "checks all the boxes: increased tax base, attractive design and good urban planning," according to a news release.