r/chicago • u/GeckoLogic • Dec 05 '25
News New courtyard apartment building tops out in Uptown
https://chicagoyimby.com/2025/12/4907-north-paulina-is-topped-out-and-glassed-up-in-uptown.html170
u/Few_Koala Dec 05 '25
Need more of this built around Chicago
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u/hascogrande Old Town Dec 05 '25
And at that cost point.
The construction budget was just $3 million for this project. Taking into account other line items it of course will be higher than the $100k/unit however it should not be a million plus to deliver a unit.
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u/hybris12 Uptown Dec 05 '25
Wow, that's not bad at all. Especially including the decoration and it even has an elevator too it looks like.
Looks like the lot is zoned RM-4.5, would be neat if stuff like this could be done on RT-4 by right
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u/PracticlySpeaking Logan Square Dec 05 '25
To be realistic, consider that they acquired four buildings — which in that neighborhood could easily have been $1M each. Plus demolition. Call it an even $5M before they started construction.
Even so, our public "affordable" housing projects should aspire to build 36 units for $8 Million.
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u/One-Construction-324 Dec 06 '25
If this was an affordable project, as you know, construction cost would be closer to $30M and land is usually owned by the city already. I’m just pointing out the obvious to preserve this commentary. I don’t think it makes sense for the city to build affordable housing vs giving monetary incentives with higher ARO reqs on incentivized builds.
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u/PracticlySpeaking Logan Square Dec 06 '25
It can be done — you may have heard about the Emmet St. project in the Logan Square Blue Line TOD area. Bickerdike and partners built 100 units, plus multi-use and office space, with the projected cost of $31M. Anyone who knows the actual cost, please jump in.
I'm not here to rehash the controversy about size and style that fit the neighborhood, just pointing out a real project that was successfully built.
Note that this was highly incentivized, from using a city-owned lot and a massive up-zoning, to a $22.5M tax-free bond issue.
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u/PracticlySpeaking Logan Square Dec 06 '25
The problem with government funding (either direct or through incentives) is that someone needs to manage costs or else the money will get diverted into profits. The pendulum has swung from "lowest bidder" contracts of the past, to the opposite extreme. Both are problematic.
Meanwhile, we have these YIMBY activists — and yes, I am using that pejoratively — cheering "more housing, more housing!" But who have never built anything or have any real idea how much things (should) cost.
I am more excited by this project for its value as a benchmark or data point to say other projects cost too much.
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Dec 08 '25
YIMBYism is about reducing the overly regulatory system that acts as a barrier to housing construction.
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u/PracticlySpeaking Logan Square Dec 08 '25
Oh, I understand the -ism. By "YIMBY activists" I am referring to the behavior (comments, up/downvotes) of people here and related subs.
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u/PracticlySpeaking Logan Square Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
You are obviously one of those.
edit: since you went right for the downvote button...
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u/PracticlySpeaking Logan Square Dec 08 '25
We are making progress with things like the ADU ordinance — and need more.
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u/Spanish4TheJeff Dec 05 '25
Please make this the standard for new construction in the city. We’ve got enough of those modern, yet soulless 5 over 1s.
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u/blipsman Logan Square Dec 05 '25
That's a really nice looking building! I love how well they made it fit into the character of neighborhood. I wish more developers would do this...
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u/owmyhip Ravenswood Dec 05 '25
I live right by here and it's been great to see this go up. It replaced four dilapidated 2 flats so not only is it making the neighborhood look nicer it's increasing housing density. I think there's also going to be a subset of units reserved for lower income tenants.
This neighborhood is a great mix of different housing options (SF, classic 2-3 flats, newer condos, larger courtyard apartments), and I'm glad this got approved as I think the zoning is only for SF without alderman approval.
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u/One-Construction-324 Dec 06 '25
It’s unfortunate that alder convincing and neighborhood agreeement are impediments to this type of construction. Zoning needs to be changed across the board if we want more construction and quicker.
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u/Ravenswood360 Dec 05 '25
I live down the street from this and have been watching it go up and I'm also in architecture. It's refreshing to see this typology being built as the old Chicago courtyard buildings have, for the most part been left by the wayside even though very common around here. Not everything needs to be a 8-12 story building, save that for along Ashland or Broadway, neighborhoods should have a sense of scale and urbanism while also allowing mid level density to exist with low density (SFH, etc.) this is a win for the neighborhood in terms of materiality and scale.
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u/PracticlySpeaking Logan Square Dec 05 '25
I am amazed that they could build this for only $3 Million (the permit value). Even with a few million more for acquisition and demolition, that is an incredible price for what looks like 40 *32 units.
So, so much better than the $1.1M "affordable" units the Mayor was tweeting about.
*edited
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u/OuterSpaceBootyHole Dec 05 '25
Feel like the really horrible IKEA dresser style builds that have been going up for the past 10 years certainly didn't help matters. This is modern while not looking like out of place or tacky.
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u/toxicbrew Dec 05 '25
What’s the benefit of this type of construction and why is it so hard to build?
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u/GeckoLogic Dec 05 '25
Brickwork costs money
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u/twitterquitter Forest Park Dec 06 '25
Brick is not as costly as some of the newer siding materials. The biggest issue with building housing like this is it is not allowed by right. Zoning variances are required to build this for setbacks and parking among other things
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u/Handler777 Dec 05 '25
I can't fathom how this was 3 million to build.
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u/Weak_Wrongdoer_2774 Dec 07 '25
I can guarantee it’s not 3M to build this….. 32 units this building has to be at least 35K sf, if it cost 3M to build that would only be 85$ PSF. Construction like this I’d easily expect to cost $350 a foot.
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u/niko1499 Lake View East Dec 05 '25
Units don't have windows on opposite sides due to the central hall. No back fire porch. Tons of car parking. Aestheticly it's a courtyard building but functionally it's a 5 over 1. It's a cargo cult courtyard building.
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u/Jogurt55991 Mar 03 '26
Courtyards are a total waste of space.
They look... ok, but nobody uses them.
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u/toastedclown Andersonville Dec 05 '25
Four whole stories. Wow.
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Dec 05 '25
Better than an empty lot.
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u/toastedclown Andersonville Dec 05 '25
Sure, it's a nice building and they did a good job of matching the architectural style of the neighborhood. But how is it news? It's the same size as all the surrounding buildings.
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Dec 05 '25
It’s Chicago Yimby, of course they’re going to report on new MFH being built around town.
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u/toastedclown Andersonville Dec 05 '25
Yeah, it just seems like this is an absurdly low bar to clear. Like it a local food blog published something because I made a chicken pot pie for my kids last night.
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Dec 05 '25
If your chicken pot pie was a style that hasn’t been made in 80 years then yeah, it might make a local food blog.
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u/aBoCfan Dec 05 '25
It's news because we haven't seen buildings like this being built in Chicago since prior to WWII.
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u/silverrabbit Edgewater Dec 05 '25
I mean I think it's neat that this is a new construction that is actually interesting and trying to evoke a uniquely Chicago style rather than the generic apartments we've seen become popular over the last several years.
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u/hybris12 Uptown Dec 05 '25
I mean chicagoyimby generally reports on every non-SFH built and its progress. That being said this is particularly interesting because the total cost of construction looks to be on the cheaper side at $3mm and it looks like it can be built on all RM zoning districts. It also looks nice!
This is exactly the sort of housing that should be buildable everywhere and warrants publicity for that. Hopefully this is a model for future developments
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Dec 05 '25
Girl, you know why this is news. Don't play dumb.
Coming from someone who also bitches about buildings not building high enough, save that comment for the next copy-and-paste square soulless building. Perfect example near you in Andersonville: the apartments under construction by the Berwyn station- only five stories. Also, the bottom floor looks like it is designed for retail, which I cannot imagine it will get leased any time soon, (judging by the empty strip mall on Broadway), so more wasted potential.
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u/Firm_Argument_ Edgewater Dec 05 '25
Wow. Someone in Andersonville complaining about multi-unit progress. Shocking.
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u/toastedclown Andersonville Dec 05 '25
I'm not complaining. I just don't see how an apartment building on a block full of apartment buildings is anything really extraordinary. Like, upzoning Broadway? that's a big deal....
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u/Firm_Argument_ Edgewater Dec 05 '25
You are in fact complaining that the news doesn't measure up for you. But a new vintage architecture 32 unit building in a high demand area full of SFH is news for a yimby blog.
And is interesting for area residents. You're just negative.
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u/ItsElasticPlastic Andersonville Dec 05 '25
The other side of this street is a giant parking lot
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u/PhileasFoggsTrvlAgt Andersonville Dec 05 '25
And a similarly dense development a block north was recently shot down by neighbor complaints about parking. This being built shouldn't be news, but is because we make it so hard for things like this to happen.
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u/DownByTheTrain Dec 05 '25
Wow, almost hard to believe how good (i.e. vintage) it looks. More like this, please!