(Above) Rendering, dated December 18, of a 196-foot condominium planned for Huron & Sedgwick in River North that will contain 46 units. (Click on images to view larger versions.)

26-Dec-14 – It will be smaller than what developers wanted but the Chicago Plan Commission approved a condominium proposed for 400 West Huron Street.

FoodSmith Huron Associates will build a 15-story 46-unit residence with retail space on the ground floor.

The site at the corner of West Huron Street and North Sedgwick Street contains three buildings, one of which was formerly Scoozi, a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant that closed in April after 27 years. That and another building will be demolished but a building that once housed a printing company will be rehabbed and converted into a condominium sometime in the future, pending a separate approval by the plan commission.

(Above) Where the new condo will fit in the northwest corner of River North. Orleans Street is in the lower right corner.

According to 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly, FoodSmith Huron Associates originally wanted to build 80 rental units with 80 parking spaces, retail space with ten-foot ceilings, and limited landscaping. They eventually agreed to condo units but nearly half as many, 61 parking spaces, 18-foot-tall retail space, and more landscaping. Reilly also talked them into adding a 1,200 square foot enclosed and heated dog run.

“This development proposal underwent substantial public scrutiny in community meetings, both ward-wide and smaller review sessions with River North Residents Association membership,” says Reilly. “These dialogues produced a plan which is a vast improvement from the developer’s initial offering.”

He says increasing the height of the ground floor retail space to 18 feet will “open up the corner and create a more pedestrian friendly experience with greater transparency at the base of the building.”

In March, Lettuce Entertain You CEO Kevin Brown hinted at a new project at the same location. Said Reilly about the new building on Tuesday, “It is also likely that this will be the future home of River North’s next new exciting restaurant.”