--John Theoharis, owner of Meli Café & Juice Bar

Tonight, nearly 50 West Loop residents and business owners saw the revised proposal for a 33-story apartment building at 765 W. Adams Street. The response from the audience was largely supportive for the 351-unit tower.

The most prominent change from the original design: the tower itself will be set against the Kennedy Expressway. Originally, the full north side of the tower covered the Adams Street side. The green space on the fifth floor—which will offer residents a park and dog run—is on the Halsted Street side.

“This design reduces the canyon effect,” said Pat FitzGerald, CEO of FitzGerald Associates Architects, the project’s architect.

FitzGerald then explained the other key changes: the elimination of a health club and grocery as tenants, and a redesign of balconies to improve the exterior design.

After two or three residents voiced concern about an increase in traffic and a height inconsistent with the character of the neighborhood, nearly a dozen others offered support for the proposal. Most of those individuals, like Meli owner Theoharis, said it would be a positive for the economy of the West Loop and the City of Chicago.

“My kids live in the area,” Theoharis said. “I own a business here. And I can tell you, without traffic and a hectic atmosphere, you have no restaurants. Without restaurants, you have no residents.”

Armando Chacon, treasurer of the Mary Bartelme Park Advisory Council and a West Loop resident, echoed Theoharis’ sentiment.

“If there’s more traffic, that’s a price I’m willing to pay for growth in business in the neighborhood,” Chacon said. “I’ll pay that price to get another deli, another bakery, another specialty shop.”

These types of businesses, known as “activity generators,” look for neighborhoods with robust growth when searching for new locations, said Scott Maesel, Executive Managing Director of Sperry Van Ness.

“Development is going to happen,” Maesel said. “It’s inevitable. I’m a resident of the West Loop, and I’m going to be dealing with parking issues, too. But development overall is a good thing.”

Supporters of the proposed tower included West Loop business owners, longtime residents, and representatives of the West Loop Community Organization, the Greektown Neighborhood Association and the West Central Chamber of Commerce.

Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr. and Richard Blum, the principal of developer White Oak Realty, spoke to the tax contribution to the City of Chicago—approximately $1.4 million. By comparison, the parking lot on the site currently generates about $100,000 in taxes.

The full-time jobs the apartment tower will bring to the West Loop number about 20, with another 80 or so likely from retail tenants. During construction — a process that should take about two years—another 300 to 350 jobs would be created.

Prior to the community meeting tonight, White Oak Realty and FitzGerald Associates took their plans to the Chicago Department of Housing and Economic Development for review. The result, after some recommended revisions, was approval of the plan. The next step is a public hearing, which could occur by mid-December.

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By Katherine from West Loop
Posted: 10/12/2012 2:12 PM

E, yes my mistake. But either way, whether its to rent or to buy, the reality is that there is a serious glut of accommodation in the West Loop, particularly if you go just 1-2 blocks west of the proposed site. If people want to live in the West Loop there are already plenty of options available, hence my skepticism towards this new building.

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By E from West Loop
Posted: 10/11/2012 8:38 PM

Katherine, this is proposed as an apartment building, not condos.

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By Katherine from West Loop
Posted: 10/11/2012 4:33 PM

Do we REALLY need more condos in this area?! I know so many people either unable to sell their places or the ones that have have done so at a great financial loss. Seriously, there must be a better way to use the space.... I love the West Loop but am so glad I am a renter & not an owner...

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By Bill Motchan from West Loop
Posted: 10/04/2012 9:57 AM

I should mention that the current surface lot at West Adams and Halsted has 130 spaces, and few of those are used by visitors and evening diners in the West Loop. Instead, they are grabbed early in the morning by suburban commuters who work in the Loop. They park and walk to their offices because the rate is far cheaper than a few blocks to the east. White Oak Realty intends to offer that number of available parking spaces--and more--in the new structure to accommodate visitors to Greektown.

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By PJ from West Loop
Posted: 10/04/2012 6:10 AM

Yes, more activity is a positive thing - (though I'd be cautious about taking that at face value from someone who stands to benefit). What I think we still need is a public parking area and this building will take some of that space where parking exists now. This is an issue in S Loop where a lot of great development went in and very little parking exists.