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Before construction can progress at Albion Residential's Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture (HPA)-designed Albion at Oak Park, demolition crews must clear away a nondescript low-rise structure that has long occupied the site at 1000 Lake Street in Chicago's Oak Park. Set for completion by late 2019, the 19-storey mixed-use residential tower will eventually add 265 units to the heart of the rapidly densifying commercial district known as Oak Park Village, just outside of downtown Chicago.
Redesigned in late 2017 following a panel review session by the Oak Park Village Board, the tower's stepped design offers some much needed respite for the adjacent Austin Gardens park which can be seen to the rear of the tower in the illustrations above and below. Beyond appeasing local sensibilities, the new approach has allowed the addition of extra terraces and rooftop gardens, which will be a boon for incoming buyers.
Making quick work of the aforementioned low-rise structure, demolition crews have begun the process of prepping the site for construction. Located just steps away from the shops and restaurants of Oak Park Village, the project will itself include a ground-level, 6,500 square-foot retail space, thus adding to the pedestrian vibrancy of the neighbourhood.
Set for completion in late 2019, Albion at Oak Park, despite its controversial beginnings, has shaped up to a project that locals can be excited about, its aforementioned redesign and subsequent 6-1 approval a testament to how far this project has come since its debut.
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.
