A new supermarket, in addition to townhouses and condominium units, may soon begin rising in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood if a proposed development eventually wins approval.
Ravenswood is already a sought-after neighborhood for people looking to buy single-family homes, condos or townhouses on the North Side of Chicago. The neighborhood is located close to public transportation, boasts several restaurants and retail options and features a diverse housing stock. A new supermarket, not to mention the new residential units now being proposed for the neighborhood, would only boost this popularity.
The Milwaukee-based Roundy’s Supermarkets, according to a feature story in the Chicago Sun-Times, is in advanced talks to build a store in the Ravenswood neighborhood. According to the story, Roundy's would join a health club and small retailers on a 6.5-acre plot of land just west of the local Metra station. The neighborhood’s alderman, Gene Schulter, is quoted in the story as saying that developers are also hoping to build residential buildings on the land.
The plans for the residential portion of the project are sketchy. But Schulter in the Sun-Times story says that developers would like an 11-story condominium building plus townhouses. Schulter, though, does not support such a large residential influx, especially considering the struggling housing market now sweeping across Chicago.
Aldermen usually get their way when it comes to projects that require a zoning change, so the odds are good that the housing portion of the project will be reduced from the 11-story condo proposal. But regardless of how many housing units come with the project, a new supermarket would be a welcome addition to the Ravenswood neighborhood.
A strong retail mix is a vital component to the success of the top North Side neighborhoods. Many of the residents in neighborhoods such as Ravenswood, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square and Streeterville prefer to leave their cars parked as much as possible. They instead like to walk to their retailers, including their grocers. Strong grocery stores, then, are an important part of the retail mix that adds to the desirability of neighborhoods such as Ravenswood.
Roundy’s, according to news reports, has long sought to open a location in Chicago. Ravenswood, with its growing population, would be a good spot for the chain to start its expansion into the city.
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