“Developers are proposing a five-story apartment complex that would bring 92 apartments to the former Torstenson Glass site in Lakeview, a property that housed the family-run glass business for more than a century.
“The plan, called Sheffield Apartments, would redevelop 3233-47 N. Sheffield Ave., just steps from the Belmont Red, Brown and Purple Line station. The project is being led by Northpark Ventures and SNS Realty Group, which want to replace three low-rise masonry buildings — including the long-running glass warehouse — with a modern, transit-oriented residential development.
“Torstenson Glass relocated to Morton Grove in late 2024, vacating the property it had occupied since 1910. With that move, one of the neighborhood’s oldest industrial holdouts made way for potential redevelopment in a high-demand area near the CTA.
The development would mean the loss of the Torstenson Glass building at 3233 N. Sheffield Ave. that housed the company for more than a century.
“Founded in 1889 by Elmer Torstenson, the business moved to Sheffield Avenue in 1910 and stayed for 114 years, becoming a fixture in Lakeview. For four generations, the Studt family ran the company and helped establish its reputation as one of the city’s most dependable suppliers, according to the company’s website.
“In December 2024, the company announced it would move to an upgraded facility in Morton Grove to improve operations and expand its capabilities.” (Filbin, Block Club Chicago, 8/7/25)