The new development on the former site of the Heartland Cafe will not require a zoning change, and construction is expected to begin either next month or in March, according to Alderwoman Maria Hadden (49th).
The construction will close Glenwood between Lunt and Greenleaf temporarily, according to Hadden. Residents needing to access the alley will still be able to do so during construction, she said.
The new plans call for a 5-story, mixed-use building, with 2,554 square feet of dedicated retail space on the ground floor, as well as a lobby area and “amenities for residential tenants,” Hadden said.
The upper floors will house 30 residential units, including nine 1-bedroom/1-bathroom units, two 2-bedroom/2 bathroom units, and three 3-bedroom/3-bathroom units. The fifth floor will include a 467-square-foot party room with a 568-square-foot exterior deck overlooking Glenwood. The building will also include 15 parking spaces and storage for up to 30 bicycles.
The real estate developer, Sam Goldman, originally hoped to build a 6-story, 60-unit mixed-use building, according to a report in The Real Deal. Hadden indicated that she would not support that plan without concessions for affordable housing, however. The plan now moving forward does not require city approval.
Goldman bought the building a year ago for $1.3 million, months after Heartland Cafe owner Tom Rosenfeld put the building up for sale and announced its closing after 40 years.