On Thursday, June 15, the Chicago Plan Commission approved the rezoning of 1675 N. Elston Avenue from M3-3 (Heavy Industry District) to C2-1 (Motor Vehicle-Related Commercial District) and then to a Commercial Planned Development.
This zoning change will allow the developer, 1675 Holdings LLC, to convert an existing two-story building into a large venue with an outdoor patio adjacent to the building on the south. The previous zoning did not allow for these uses.
1675 N. Elston Avenue is located in the North Branch Industrial Corridor. Although we support new businesses, we would like to see M3-3 zoning maintained as industrial companies provide high-quality, family-sustaining jobs that do not require advanced degrees and build wealth within Chicago neighborhoods.
Our letter to the Chicago Plan Commission highlights these points and others.
With the reshoring of manufacturing in the U.S., it's essential that the city preserves land zoned for manufacturing so we can attract new companies. This is an important part of our role as a City of Chicago delegate agency for the Local Industrial Retention Initiative (LIRI) Program.
Prior to the rezoning appearing before Chicago Plan Commission, North Branch Works surveyed our member businesses near 1675 N. Elston. We heard concerns about the lack of available on-street parking along this stretch of Elston Avenue and the need for security to ensure public safety when events end at 4 a.m.
Rendering of the proposed project
NBW staff met with 1675 Holdings LLC and carefully reviewed this request and shared these concerns. We also communicated these issues to Plan Commission in our written and oral testimony.
This rezoning now moves to City Council where it is highly likely to be approved.
We’d like to thank Alderman Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward) and his team for their support of industrial and manufacturing businesses and including NBW in this important dialogue.
NBW looks forward to working with the 32nd Ward on a plan of operations that ensures any disruptions to the surrounding businesses are minimized.
Image credits: 1675 Holdings LLC
