A Chicago developer is “evaluating alternative options” for a proposed Near North Side apartment tower that had drawn vocal opposition from neighbors, the company said.
After more than a year of community meetings and multiple versions of the project, 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins ultimately opposed Fifield Cos. plan for a 39-story, 303-unit tower at 125 W. Maple St. The project was recently pulled from the city’s Plan Commission agenda for the second time, effectively deferring the proposal indefinitely.
Echoing some of the complaints of neighbors, Hopkins said the building’s density, proximity to the neighboring building, and issues with the alley between the buildings contributed to his opposition, along with the narrow width of Maple Street.
“I did not think it was an appropriate design for that site,” Hopkins said.
Backing from the alderman and the Plan Commission are key steps toward full City Council approval.
Residents of the neighboring 34-story condo building, the Gold Coast Galleria, have rallied against Fifield’s proposal since before the first public meeting. They’ve said a 20-foot alley separating the two towers is not enough, and the proximity of the two towers would block their sunlight and views, reduce their property values and add to traffic congestion along LaSalle Drive.
Hopkins has said blocked views are not a consideration in zoning decisions.
Neighbors are also unhappy that Fifield sought increased zoning density by acquiring air rights from the nearby Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, which planned to build a community center near the proposed apartment tower.
The lack of a final design for the community center and a parking garage also contributed to Hopkins’ opposition, he said.
Fifield’s most recent plan was smaller than the 43-story, 406-unit tower the company unveiled in July 2020, but taller than a revised proposal showed to neighbors last fall.
Designed by Pappageorge Haymes Partners, the most recent version of the tower maintained a 20-foot distance from the neighboring building for the bottom nine floors of the tower, which would have included parking and a private terrace. Above that, the distance between the two would be 40 feet.
The company planned to buy and demolish a smaller condo building at the site. The proposed redevelopment had called for 116 parking spaces, 106 bicycle spaces and about 3,700 square feet of retail.
Hopkins said he would support a similar building elsewhere in his ward.
Any future Fifield project at the site would be residential, said Lindsey Senn, the company’s executive vice president for finance and development.
“After addressing the community’s concerns regarding alley congestions, traffic and overall density, we are disappointed that Alderman Hopkins does not support the project in its current form given the economic benefits, including additional tax revenue, jobs and investments in underserved communities this project will create,” she said in a statement. “We are evaluating alternative options to redevelop the site.”
Hopkins said he would support a smaller project at that location.
