Development plans that include the rebirth of a historic building are underway in Logan Square, where two summers ago, Pearl Properties had a proposal on the table to build up to 12 stories on top of the Granary structure at 411 N 20th St. Some members of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) were not into that, and it was back to the drawing board.

From the south

However, LSNA recently approved a preliminary plan for a project at that site for 120 rental-units with underground parking with 147 spots, that would revive the site that was first a grain elevator constructed during the Civil War. In 1924, after an explosion destroyed the original elevator, architects designed and erected the structure as we see it today. The building, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, will be renovated and house some of the units. An eight story building will also go up on the currently vacant lot next door to the granary, according to Ed Panek, LSNA zoning chair. Developers and owners Pearl Properties will fabricate some sort of connector to attach the two buildings. Plans will also include first-floor retail, with one or two high-end restaurants possibly a part of that, according to Panek. These plans could change slightly in the coming months.

The lot next door

Though a timeline or ground-breaking date for this construction has yet to be determined, this is another good example of neighborhood residents working with developers, and visa versa, to discover interesting ways to incorporate historic buildings and architectural references into new construction. Once the design aspects are completely finalized, we should have some renderings for this project. Looking forward to seeing this project get cookin’…

Can't wait...

–Lou Mancinelli