“Developers hoping to renovate the dilapidated Hollander Storage & Moving site have shared updated plans for their apartment proposal with the community after almost two years.
“GW Properties, which owns the site at 2418-2428 N. Milwaukee Ave, shared a fifth version of plans for the building at the monthly Logan Square Preservation meeting Thursday night. The building has been eyed for an overhaul since 2018, when the company bought it.
“The updated plans show increased density, slightly larger space for retail and larger apartments compared to an apartment proposal shared in 2022, though much of the exterior and design elements have remained the same.
“The plans garnered enthusiastic nods and positive feedback from the majority of neighbors and community members at the meeting. While some expressed concerns about affordability, parking, bikeability and potential retail tenants, those in attendance said they want to see the project move forward — for real this time.
“New plans call for 62 loft-style industrial apartments, a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units and studios, and about 13,000 square feet of retail space. Previous plans had called for 57 apartments and 11,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor.
“‘We do believe this project represents the best use of this land [and] property, and it will really bring the most amount of new good things to the area that has so many other great things,’ Goltz said.
“Jill Brady, a neighbor who lives across from the proposed development in the 2400 block of North Richmond Street, complimented the building preservation efforts. She and other neighbors voiced concerns over parking and alley noise, but overall had no issues with the latest plans.
“‘The fact that they’re preserving a lot of the interior makes me happy, and the terracotta outside,’ Brady said. ‘It’s favorable.’
“Andy Schneider, president of Logan Square Preservation, commended the updated plans that will preserve more of the building and fix a vacant eyesore.
“‘The neighbors have various minor concerns, but broadly speaking, they’re supportive of the project and we want to see a successful redevelopment of a building that otherwise is vacant and crumbling, and that’s not a good thing for anybody,’ Schneider said.” (Parrella-Aureli, Block Club Chicago, 1/19/24)
Preservation Chicago had been in communication with developer Mitch Goltz of GW Properties, former owner David Hollander and aldermen’s offices to encourage a preservation-sensitive reuse of the building and to promote a potential landmark designation. All were receptive to the concept. Preservation Chicago encourages the developer to consider landmarking the Hollander Warehouse building and its highly decorative and intact lobby. A different building with similar name, the Hollander Fireproof Warehouse located at Milwaukee, North and Damen avenues was renovated in 2016 as part of the Northwest Tower/ Robey Hotel project.
Read the full story at Block Club Chicago
- Will Hollander Apartment Project Finally Come To Fruition? Neighbors Support Latest Proposal; After many false starts, neighbors hope the latest plans for the Milwaukee Avenue building will move forward, Ariel Parrella-Aureli, Block Club Chicago, 1/19/24
- Hollander Apartments? New Proposal Could Bring Up To 57 Apartments And Retail To Historical Logan Square Site; The residential-heavy proposal comes after developers said plans for an all-commercial property were ruined by the pandemic. But Ald. Daniel LaSpata is concerned about adding more studios and one-bedroom units to the area, Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago, 8/17/22
- Logan Square’s Hollander Building To Become Lofts, Retail, Day Care After City Council Vote; Developer GW Properties wants to rehab and redevelop the nearly 110-year-old building at 2418 N. Milwaukee Ave., a project years in the making; Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago, 7/21/21
- Developer Buys Historic Hollander Moving Site, Plans Boutique Offices with Restaurant, Apartments, “I think it’ll be a nice complement to have the new meets the old,” the developer said. Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago, 8/8/18