From
Crain's today: a Prairies Ave. Mcmansion is a "no-brainer." It is low density, tacky, and ostentatious. But hey, at least it keeps the neighborhood feel in tact, right?
Quote:
Richard Simon, CEO of Chicago-based United Service Cos., recently obtained zoning approval to build a 13,300-square-foot home on the 1900 block of the street where Marshall Field, George Pullman, and others lived during the late 19th century. The structure would include two one-bedroom apartments above a garage, according to a zoning application approved by the city's Zoning Board of Appeals.
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I wonder if those apartments will be rented out or used as guest homes.
I fully support landmark preservation, but I don't think a low-rise with 5-10 floors would kill this neighborhood. In fact, I think more density (more safety, amentities etc.) would only make the historic homes more valuable, yet:
Quote:
Prairie Avenue in recent years has been a battleground between high-rise developers and neighbors aiming to keep the historic integrity of the street. Mr. Simon, whose family has lived in the area for 20 years, says his brick home will fit in.
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Instead of density:
Quote:
The seller paid $4.25 million for the land in 2007 and planned to build a seven-story condo building and four or five townhouses there before getting hit with a foreclosure suit that was dropped in April.
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Not really Prairie Ave historic District:
Quote:
Although not technically part of the historic district, the house Mr. Simon plans to build was embraced by neighbors because it respects the integrity of the neighborhood, Ms. Feldstein says.
“We take it parcel by parcel, project by project, and if it's right for the community then it's a no-brainer,” she says. “This is one of those that's a no-brainer.”
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I'm not sure a Mcmansion is a no-brainer to many. However, I do understand that:
Quote:
For a neighborhood still littered with unsold condos built during the housing boom, a mansion is a better use of the land than previous proposals, says Alderman Robert Fioretti, whose 2nd Ward encompasses the district.
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Here's a pic from the article: