“A redevelopment plan for an empty Logan Square building in the making since 2018 is moving forward with the latest proposal from a developer.
”Key Development Partners LLC has tried to overhaul a former substance abuse recovery center at 3601 W. Cortland St. since 2022. The latest proposal for the site calls for turning the building into a 42-unit apartment building and 34 parking spaces, the second proposal from the same developer.
”Chris Sotos, of Key Development Partners, and Rolando Acosta, his zoning attorney, presented the updated plans to neighbors at a community meeting last week hosted by Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th), months after the March introduction to the City Council of the zoning variances needed for the project.
”The project doesn’t need a full zoning change but needs a sign off from Fuentes and the city on six zoning variances to the building, which include a building setback for additions to the upper floors, landscaping, a parking reduction from 38 to 34 spots, eliminating a loading berth and a green space modification.
”The variances were approved in 2023 but expired in 2024 since there was no movement on the building, which is why the process needed to restart, Acosta said.
”Neighbors had issues about parking, trash and lighting, but most were in favor of the project that would add density to the area and restore a vacant building that’s seen fly dumping and vandalism in recent months.
”Fellow neighbor Monika Lozinska is glad the facade and exterior will remain more or less the same.
”’It’s gonna be nice to see there is something happening with the building, and that the building itself is being preserved because it’s really pretty outside,’ Lozinska said.
”At the end of the meeting, Fuentes said she was leaning toward renewing the zoning classification amendment at the Zoning Committee since no one expressed opposition.
”Pending city approval, the project could kick off construction in early spring 2027 and last a little over one year.
”An initial proposal to convert the building into 44 one-bedroom apartments in 2018 by another developer fell through.
”Sotos bought the building — originally built in 1918 for the Illinois Bell Telephone Co. — in November 2020, according to Cook County property records.
”The building was home to faith-based organization Adult & Teen Challenge, a center for adults and teens undergoing substance abuse treatment. The organization moved out after the building sold in 2020 after a 25-year run.” (Parrella-Aureli, Block Club Chicago, 9/8/26)
”The current plans are being led by the same team behind the last redevelopment attempt, that being Key Development Partners along with OKW Architects. The proposal encompasses the four-story building along with its adjacent surface parking lot, which would be preserved. The U-shaped structure would have its side lightwell filled in for additional unit space.” (Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 9/9/26)
Preservation Chicago supports the adaptive reuse of the Illinois Bell Telephone Company Building at 3601 W. Cortland Street. Chicago’s early telephone exchange buildings are a distinctive and under-appreciated building type. Built by the phone company to house switching equipment, they were designed to look permanent and civic, with masonry walls, restrained classical detailing, and a solidity out of proportion to their size. They were also built to carry heavy equipment loads, which makes them unusually well suited to conversion.
This building has been vacant since 2020 and has attracted dumping and vandalism. The proposal retains the exterior, and neighbors at the community meeting said they desire the building to be reused. We encourage Alderwoman Jessie Fuentes, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and the City to approve the variances so that this long-empty building can be reactivated.
Read the full story at Block Club Chicago and Chicago YIMBY
- Conversion Of Former Logan Square Recovery Center Into Apartments Finally Moving Forward; Neighbors expressed concern about parking, trash and lighting but were in favor of the 42-unit project that could bring more density to the area and restore a vacant building, Ariel Parrella-Aureli, Block Club Chicago, 9/8/26
- Plans Revealed For Redevelopment Of 3601 West Cortland Street In Logan Square, Ian Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 9/9/26
- Former Substance Abuse Recovery Center In Logan Square Could Become 38-Unit Apartment Building, Block Club Chicago, 3/16/22
- Logan Square Substance Abuse Recovery Center Could Be Converted Into Apartments Targeted At Millennials, Block Club Chicago, 8/17/18