“Crews will begin tearing down the Ruby Dry Cleaners buildings in Irving Park this spring to make room for a new four-story apartment building with a first-floor day care.
“Tiny Giants Early Learning Center owners Farah and Amir Essa closed on their $2.6 million purchase of the 2801 W. Montrose Ave. property in October. Since then, the owners have been working with Seek Design + Architecture to plan what the new building will look like, Farah Essa said.
“Demolition will begin this spring with the goal of construction beginning in the fall. The new day care will be ready to open by the start of 2026, if not sooner, while the apartments will continue to be built out, Farah Essa said.
“The owners aren’t seeking a zoning change for the building.
“The previous owner of the site, Jae Choi Kim, one of Ruby Dry Cleaners’ owners, tried to sell it to an affordable housing developer, saying the plan would fulfill her dying father’s last wish. That fizzled after neighborhood opposition to the proposal and the former developer not being able to secure competitive affordable housing tax credits to build the project.” (Hernandez, Block Club Chicago, 4/26/24)
The Ruby Cleaners Blade Sign was featured as one of the Chicago Neon Signs 2015 Chicago 7 Most Endangered. It was removed in 2019. Preservation Chicago has consistently advocated that the sign and facade be incorporated into the new construction.