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Progress at the site of 3Eleven (formerly 311 W Illinois), within the heart of the bustling River North district in downtown Chicago, began in earnest over the summer, and the new development is already beginning to redefine its immediate urban context.
Set to take up a large portion of a site currently occupied by an active church and priory, the new development by The John Buck Company will place a 24-storey, 245-unit residential tower above the former church parking lot. The sale of that lot will allow the church to renovate and expand its two-storey priory into a three-storey annex complete with a fully re-landscaped garden.
Working in conjunction with the century-old Assumption Catholic Church, the designs by FitzGerald Associates Architects will work well to complement the historic structure. The finished product will sit to the side, on the site of the former parking lot, while the refurbished church and redesigned priory and garden will be greatly enhanced once the project is complete.
While the massive green space seen in the above image was created for the purpose of showing the project in full, there is in fact a large residential tower in place of a lawn.
Viewed above, the former parking lot has quickly been swallowed up by construction, and a flurry of activity over a matter of weeks has completely transformed the site. Below, an alternate view of the same site reveals the surrounding urban context, especially the adjacent residential tower (to the left) that sits right across the street.
The new development will contain 245 luxury apartments and be anchored at its base by a 3,000-square-foot retail space. The ground-level spaces have been designed to blend into the immediate streetscape with the application of similar massing and traditional brick cladding, which will help bring the tower down to the more human scale of the old church.
Building amenities will include a new parking lot with 109 spaces, many of which will be reserved for church use, along with space for 200 bikes. Residents will also have access to a rooftop lounge with a fitness centre, pool, and outdoor terrace. Meanwhile, the old priory will be given a much improved street presence as well, with a revamped garden to complete the development with an attractive public space.
Once complete, 3Eleven will be a welcome addition to the neighbourhood, especially given the new development's willingness to play nicely with its neighbour. A rarity among new builds, 3Eleven's unique ability to blend into its historic surroundings and streetscape are a move in the right direction. Moreover, just steps to transit and within the heart of the rapidly rising River North district, the new development will likely be a hit among those looking for a quick commute to downtown.
SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.
