More info at Open House Chicago Website
“[Fern Hill Company] Developers have recruited architect David Adjaye to overhaul several properties in Old Town, including the site of the old Treasure Island Grocery Store.
“Adjaye, known for projects like the National Museum of African American History and Culture, was selected to design buildings owned by Fern Hill and Moody Church, a historic non-denominational Christian Church at 1635 N. LaSalle Drive.
“The development, which generally surrounds the area of 1600 N. LaSalle Drive, will include:
- BP Gas Station at 1647 N. LaSalle Drive (Archway Standard, 1971, G. Terp)
- Walgreens at 1601 N. Wells St (Stanley Tigerman)
- [North Federal Savings Bank / Wintrust at 100 W. North Ave. (Naess & Murphy)]
- Moody Church campus
- Shell Gas Station at 130 W. North Ave
- parking lot at North Avenue and LaSalle Drive
- vacant Treasure Island retail space on Wells Street
“‘We’ve asked ourselves as owners, ‘Who do we take this disjointed collection of separate parcels and transition these sites to a more cohesive and inclusive vision for the community as a whole?” said Fern Hill co-principal Nick Anderson.
Adjaye told neighbors during a virtual community meeting Wednesday he and his team ‘know Chicago very well and are big fans of the city.’
“‘Chicago has this extraordinary heritage of architecture, and Old Town was sort of the roots of that,’ Adjaye said. ‘The neighborhood has beautiful two- to three-story, Victorian-style architecture, which is why that part of the city is so distinct.’
“This is a blank canvas right now as we start,” Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) said. “You all are invited to pick up a paintbrush. Let’s decide together what we want to happen here in conjunction with Moody Church and Fern Hill.” (Wittich, Block Club Chicago, 9/30/21)