Much has changed at the corner of Clark and Addison in recent months, and not just because the Cubs need to find room for a trophy case.
If you visited Wrigley Field around the time of the Cubs’ World Series win, you probably noticed all the gaping holes left by former bars and retail stores along Clark Street. Or not, because the Cubs excitement largely overshadowed the fact that Wrigleyville has essentially become one large construction zone.
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From the Cubs’ interior projects (bullpen relocation, seat replacement, continued structural improvements) to their new office building and the making of the boutique hotel across the street, the Wrigley restoration plan (aka 1060 Project) enters its messy, final (?) years. The Ricketts family doesn’t just own the ballpark, the giant hole across the street and the giant office building on Waveland Ave., it also owns 10 of the 16 rooftops on Waveland and Sheffield.
But the Wrigleyville revitalization doesn’t stop with the Cubs. A joint venture by two companies (M&R Development and Bucksbaum Retail Properties) is set to change the look of the neighborhood even more. Just take a look at these renderings.
Remember when Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts threatened to move the Cubs to Rosemont if the city didn’t approve the Cubs’ desired changes? No one believed it would happen, but it looks like Rosemont came to the Cubs (sans loud airport).
The new development is set to include an apartment complex with 148 units, 146,000 square feet of commercial space and 405 parking spaces. The structure will also house a 10-screen movie theater.
Judging from the renderings of the apartment building, living just steps from one of baseball’s most iconic parks will not be cheap. Lakeview is already one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city, with an average rent of $1,300/month for a one-bedroom apartment.
Then on Tuesday, the Chicago Tribune reported that Shake Shack will open its fourth Chicago-area location in the new development.
While there’s no dearth of bars left on Clark St. (and the area could use some more family-friendly establishments), adding another fast-food burger joint to replace another (remember how upset people were when they demolished the McDonald’s?) doesn’t seem like it’ll add much to the neighborhood. It’s also been reported that a Culver’s was coming to Clark St., though construction appears to keep getting delayed.
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This Wrigleyville development mirrors others that have been popping up around the city that often include Mariano’s or Whole Foods grocery stores, gyms and big-box retail stores, like Lincoln Park’s NewCity development. While there’s not quite as much room on this Lakeview block, it remains to be seen which retailers will be represented when the project is complete in 2018.
The Cubs’ office building and Hotel Zachary are also scheduled to be completed in 2018. The hotel will bring back McDonald’s, as well as feature West Town Bakery, Big Star and Smoke Daddy restaurant locations.
By that point, the area around Wrigley Field will likely be nearly unrecognizable.
Until then, it might be wise to take a cue from the playoffs and avoid driving around Wrigley Field for a while.