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        <title>Chicago Real Estate News &amp; Neighborhood Notes</title>
        <link>https://www.goldcoastrealty-chicago.com/blog/2025-12/</link>
        <description>Chicago real estate news and other tidbits about neighborhoods, new construction, new development, condos, apartments, and other residential real estate. </description>
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    <guid>https://www.goldcoastrealty-chicago.com/blog/revitalizing-chicagos-gold-coast-the-new-apartment-proposal-at-7-west-elm-street.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.goldcoastrealty-chicago.com/blog/revitalizing-chicagos-gold-coast-the-new-apartment-proposal-at-7-west-elm-street.html</link>
        <author>leo@goldcoastrealtychicago.com (Leo Clark.)</author>
        <title>Revitalizing Chicago's Gold Coast: The New Apartment Proposal at 7 West Elm Street</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Photo Courtesy of Goettsch Partners


Chicago's historic Gold Coast neighborhood is no stranger to transformation, blending its elegant past with modern urban living. The latest buzz centers on a proposed 28-story apartment tower at 7 West Elm Street, set to replace a vacant Barnes &amp; Noble bookstore and the beloved Lou Malnati's Pizzeria. This development promises to inject fresh energy into the area, offering new housing options amid the city's ongoing demand for residential spaces.






Spearheaded by Convexity Properties, who acquired the site for $39 million in September 2025, the project revives a stalled plan from 2021. Originally envisioned by Newcastle Limited with a height of 345 feet and 304 units, the updated design scales back slightly to 312 feet while boosting the unit count to 307. Designed by Goettsch Partners, the tower features a contemporary aesthetic with a blue glass curtain wall, interlocking L-shaped forms, and added balconies to enliven the facade. The base includes a five-story podium clad in brick, metal panels, and glass, creating a pedestrian-friendly street presence along North State Street and West Elm Street.


Inside, residents can look forward to a mix of mostly one- and two-bedroom apartments, with a handful of studios and three-bedroom options. Amenities are a highlight, including shared outdoor terraces on the 18th floor for work-from-home setups and the top 28th floor boasting a fitness center, spa, lounge, and an exterior pool deck. Practical features like 132 resident-only parking spots accessed via Elm Street, plus 180 bike storage spaces, cater to urban lifestyles. On the ground and second floors, about 24,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space will wrap around the corner, potentially attracting food and beverage tenants to keep the neighborhood vibrant.


Affordability is addressed with eight on-site affordable units and a $4.5 million contribution to the city's housing fund for the rest. This aligns with Chicago's requirements, though some might argue for more integrated low-income options. The timeline looks promising: permits are expected in early 2026, with construction kicking off in June—starting with demolition of the former bookstore, followed by the pizzeria site in July—and wrapping up by March 2028. WE O’Neil is lined up as the general contractor, and since the project builds on the 2021 zoning approval, it only needs a minor administrative tweak from the Department of Planning and Development.


Community response has been mixed, as shared in recent meetings. Supporters appreciate the added housing and retail boost in a prime location near transit and amenities, potentially easing the city's rental crunch. Critics, however, point to the design as somewhat blocky or uninspiring, with concerns over shadows, parking visibility, and whether the height could have been bolder to maximize density. There's also nostalgia for Lou Malnati's, though talks are underway for it to relocate nearby.


Overall, this proposal represents a thoughtful evolution for the Gold Coast, balancing growth with neighborhood character. If approved, it could set a precedent for adaptive urban redevelopment, turning underused sites into dynamic community hubs. As Chicago continues to grow, projects like this highlight the delicate dance between preservation and progress. Keep an eye on this one—it might just redefine your stroll down State Street.


Photo Courtesy of Goettsch Partners




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    <pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:21:00 -0600</pubDate>
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