Chicago-Main development moving forward

As seen in the Chicago Tribune

A nine-story mixed-use high rise development going up at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Main Street may be open as soon as Sept. 1, estimated the developer, joining city officials and others at a “topping off,” ceremony Wednesday..

Developer John O’Donnell, CEO of the Riverside Investment & Development Company was joined by Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl and Ald. Melissa Wynne, in whose Third Ward the building is going up, and others at the ceremony.

O’Donnell, consulting with a member of his construction team, said the building is about 60 percent complete.

“The topping off our building is a tremendous milestone for the entire development team,” he said, “most importantly the union tradesmen who worked through sub-zero temperatures as well as 90-degree heat to meet this important goal.”

The building will feature ground floor retail space, and 112 residential units. At the city’s request, the developer included office space on the second floor.

Evanston City Council members backed $2.9 million Tax Increment Finance assistance to the developer to allow him to include the office space component. Wynne had led the way on the TIF, arguing that office space tenants will lead to greater foot traffic in the area, benefiting nearby businesses.

At this point, the company has already signed several major tenants, including the Goddess and the Baker, which specializes in baked goods, O’Donnell said. First Bank & Trust will also occupy a space in the building, relocating from a storefront farther west on Main Street.

“We have a lot of tenants that we’re talking to for the other spaces,” O’Donnell maintained. “We’re real confident.”

Pointing to some extra construction features, he promised “one great building.”

“We’re not going to charge downtown rents, although the building is at least the quality of what you see downtown,” he said, speaking over the din of construction.

“I go by in the train every day I look at the building and at the structure. As I said, this is going to be a jewel. It’s really going to attract people.”

Tisdahl noted how the building fell within the city’s current emphasis on transit-oriented development.

The CTA and Metra stops are located across the street, one of the few places in the county stops from the two lines are located so close together.

Wynne praised construction workers for pulling off the project so smoothly in the dense residential neighborhood.

“This corner of Main Street and Chicago Avenue has long stood vacant waiting for the return of commercial vibrancy,” she said in a statement. “The addition of new retail to compliment the existing unique retail offered in this neighborhood and the addition of new daytime office users and residents will support this corner of Evanston.”

“Now that the building has topped off, I look forward to see the building continue to come together,” Wynne said.