By : Subuk Hasnain
Fri, 10/11/2013 - 2:51pm
The City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards passed an ordinance Thursday that would allow for the transformation of the Three Arts Club, a Chicago landmark in the city’s Gold Coast neighborhood, into a furniture gallery and café.
Owners of 1300 Dearborn Parkway LLC proposed zoning changes that would allow for a $25 million to $30 million renovation of the four-story building located at 1300 N. Dearborn Pkwy. that has been vacant for nearly a decade. Following the renovation, Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc. plans to open the RH Gallery furniture and art showroom in the space. Plans for the building also include a first floor café and rooftop terrace.
Alderman Bob Fioretti (2nd), in whose ward the property sits, expressed support for the project and said, “We want to see something being done here.” He added that the renovations must “blend in with the character of the community,” and ensure that the "significant landmark” that would be preserved and maintained even if changes are made.
Also on Thursday, the committee passed an ordinance that would authorize a lumber warehouse located at 4540 W. Belmont Ave. in the Old Irving Park neighborhood and owned by Shannon Holdings Company to be converted into an Intrinsic Schools charter school. The school would house nearly 900 seventh through 12th grade students.
Local Alderman Ariel Reboyras (30th), a former school teacher, welcomed the proposal. He said the creation of the new Intrinsic school would ease an “overcrowding situation” occurring in his and other Northwest Side wards.
The committee on Thursday also passed an ordinance allowing a rehabilitation of the Rosenwald Courts Apartments so the development can be used for affordable senior and family housing. Plans for the site include approximately 81,000 square foot of retail and office space along with 239 residential units.
The new Rosenwald Courts development project will take up an entire city block. It will be financed through private and public funding. Local Alderman Pat Dowell (3rd) asked for the committee's endorsement of the proposal.
All three measures will be considered by the full City Council at its Wednesday meeting.
This article was originally published on the Daily Whale website in 2013.