“The owner of two historic buildings in Jefferson Park is hoping to find commercial tenants for both properties that will help revitalize the area’s struggling business district.
“‘When someone wants to see the firehouse (at 4837-41 N. Lipps Ave.), we also take them to see the Lero (at 4762-64 N. Milwaukee Ave.) and when someone wants you see the Lero, we also take them to the firehouse,’ said developer Tim Pomaville of Ambrosia Homes.
“The goal is to attract a business, such as a restaurant or retailer, that would generate foot traffic for the area, Pomaville said. ‘We definitely want to see something great go there and bring life to those blocks,’ he said.
“Last year Pomaville purchased the 110-year-old building, which has been vacant for about 30 years, except for a period of time when a manufacturer operated on the second floor until the city shut it down due to licensing and permit issues.
“Pomaville said that the two-story building was recently cleaned up and is ready for lease. The first and second floors each measure about 5,000 square feet with 12-foot ceilings, plus a full basement.
“Pomaville said that he also is seeking a commercial tenant for the first floor of the former firehouse, which the city sold to him in exchange for putting about $200,000 in an escrow for the property’s environmental remediation. The remediation has been completed, and all of the funds spent, he said.
“‘It’s totally clean inside. Before it was unsafe,’ Pomaville said of the 118-year-old, two-story structure. (Nadig, Nadig Newspapers, 1/24/24)
“Plans had called for a ground-floor brewery and a third-floor addition, with eight apartments on the upper floors, but the brewery has opened elsewhere and the third-floor addition may not happen.”
Preservation Chicago applauds Tim Pomaville and Ambrosia Homes for his dedication and commitment to this adaptive reuse over the past 5 or more years. He genuinely partnered with the community, listened to and integrated the comments, and changed the trajectory of his development accordingly. A special thanks to the dedicated and outstanding advocacy of the Northwest Chicago Historical Society, Susanna Ernst, Frank Suerth, and Jacob Kaplan.
The Northwest Chicago Historical Society and Preservation Chicago encourage Ambrosia Homes to seek a Chicago Landmark Designation for the building. This could be considered as an individual landmark or as an extension of the thematic Chicago Fire House Landmark District.
Read the full story at Nadig Newspapers
- Tenants sought for two historic buildings in Jefferson Park on Chicago’s NW Side, Brian Nadig, Nadig Newspapers, 1/24/24
- After Lake Effect Brewery Calls Off Jefferson Park Plans, Neighbors Ask: What Will It Take To Keep Promising Businesses? The developer is committed to bringing another brewery, restaurant or bar to the historic firehouse and has been showing the space this week, Ariel Parrella-Aureli, Block Club Chicago, 7/14/22
- Lake Effect Brewing Won’t Open Taproom In Jeff Park Firehouse After Years Of Delays, Heading To Avondale Instead; After six years of planning, Lake Effect Brewing’s owner said he couldn’t wait any longer for construction to start on the historical firehouse. The taproom is slated to open in Avondale early next year, Ariel Parrella-Aureli, Block Club Chicago, 7/11/22
- Lake Effect Brewing and nine apartments coming to former Jefferson Park firehouse after legal battle ends, Sarah Freishtat, Chicago Tribune, 4/7/21
For leasing information, call Ambrosia at 312-437-8292