“City Council has approved the rezoning for three iconic, century-old buildings across from Wrigley Field’s right field bleachers on Sheffield Avenue to make way for one 29-unit apartment building.

“The vote passed Wednesday despite an effort by some neighbors to block the project due to the historical significance of the buildings and the potential impact on the neighborhood’s character.

“The ownership group behind the project, led by rooftop property investor Marc Anguiano, plans to tear down the trio of properties at 3627, 3631 and 3633 N. Sheffield Ave. to build a five-story, 29-unit apartment building with 11 parking spaces along the alley behind the building. The rooftop design includes two pickleball courts.

“Longtime Chicago Cubs fans will recognize the three buildings as the ones that featured the famous Torco billboard as well as the property that became famous for its ‘Eamus Catuli’ sign — loosely translated from Latin as “Let’s go Cubs.’ That sign hung for years atop 3633 N. Sheffield Ave. but has since moved next door.

“As the area around Wrigley Field went through massive renovations, the owners of the three buildings on Sheffield Avenue essentially drew the short stick. They used to sell rooftop tickets to fans who wanted to watch Cubs games, but those seats have mostly sat empty since 2015 due to the massive video scoreboard in right field that blocks the view from the rooftops.

“Twenty years ago, a lot of these property owners signed a deal with the Cubs to share revenue in order to get their view,” Ald. Bennett Lawson (44th) previously told Block Club. “And then 10 years ago, the Cubs changed the deal with the city and blocked their view. Many of them sold to the Cubs — and then you have these guys who had nothing as part of the commercial side.”

“Lisa Sorenson, a longtime Wrigleyville resident who owns property a block away, started an online petition for city officials to reconsider the development and landmark the buildings as historic properties.

“The petition garnered nearly 2,900 signatures, but with the City Council vote on Wednesday, there may not be much neighbors can do to stop the project from moving forward.

“It’s disappointing that the alderman is pushing his and the developer’s agenda without taking into account community feedback,” Sorenseon said Wednesday. “The neighborhood is not anti-development, but to destroy these three iconic buildings is unacceptable.”

“One of the biggest things for us — that may not be true for everyone and all the developments in the area — is remaining true to the history and trying to preserve it as much as possible,” Anguiano previously told Block Club. “That’s very important to us. There are details within the design that we put in to try and stay as true as we can to what’s there.” (Filbin, Block Club Chicago, 7/19/24)

Read the full story at Block Club Chicago

• Famous Wrigley Field Rooftops Will Be Torn Down After City Signs Off; City Council on Wednesday approved the rezoning of three iconic properties on Sheffield Avenue — including the Eamus Catuli and Torco buildings — to make way for a single 29-unit apartment building, Patrick Filbin, Block Club Chicago, 7/19/24
• First Demolition Permit Issued For Three Sheffield Avenue Buildings Next To Wrigley Field, Daniel Schell, Chicago YIMBY, 2/27/25