by BRIAN NADIG

The City of Chicago is in the process of rezoning the site of the 118-year-old former firehouse in Jefferson Park to its previous zone to accommodate revised redevelopment plans.

The property at 4837-41 N. Lipps Ave. (near the CTA terminal) was zoned C1-3 in 2020 to allow for a ground-floor brewery and a third-floor addition to the two-story firehouse, with up to nine apartments planned on the upper floors.

Under the new plan, the second floor will be converted to create four apartments and the ground floor will be subdivided to make room for two commercial tenants. The previously planned brewery, Lake Effect, was eventually relocated to the Avondale neighborhood.

The 2020 rezoning expired after two years, and under the city’s Type 1 zoning regulations, the site can be returned to its previous B3-2 status at the request of the zoning administrator. The applicant for the zoning change is zoning administrator Patrick Murphy.

Project developer Tim Pomaville of Ambrosia Homes said adding a third floor would have created structural problems, particularly as it would have been set back from the front of the building to give passersby the original impression of a two-story building.

With Type 1 zoning, developers are essentially bound to the exact plans at the time of approval. Type 1 zoning is a common tool used by city councils to ensure that projects remain what was presented to the community at the time of rezoning, as significant changes would require further rezoning.

“It’s still a win-win situation … for the neighborhood,” Pomaville said, adding that the existing height of the fire station would remain unchanged.

The Northwest Chicago Historical Society had pushed for the two-story character of the building to be preserved due to its historical significance, resulting in a third-story setback. An earlier plan called for a two-story addition with no setback.

Each apartment would have two bathrooms and two bedrooms, Pomaville said. The site has six parking spaces, but some could be eliminated due to the city’s landscaping requirements.

Pomaville said many potential tenants have looked at the ground floor space, but no one has signed a lease. The high ceiling – as the space was previously used as fire truck storage – could attract “really cool” businesses to the community, he added.

Renting out the ground floor could be easier if it is renovated and the rooms are divided, Pomaville said. If a tenant wants the entire ground floor, the wall could be removed, he said. There is also a basement that could be used for storage.

The city sold the building to Ambrosia and paid $200,000 for environmental remediation of the property. The remediation is complete and all funds have been spent, he said.

“It’s absolutely clean inside. It used to be unsafe,” Pomaville said earlier this year.

For leasing information, contact Ambrosia at 312-437-8292.

Meanwhile, a plan to build 31 apartments at 4900 N. Milwaukee Ave. has run into a similar problem because its Type 1 zoning has expired. It’s not clear if the project will go ahead.

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