Logan Square Transit-Oriented Development: Less Parking, More Walkability

A pioneering developer of car-free apartments is looking to continue building car-lite residences. Curbed Chicago reports that Rob Buono, who was behind constructing 1611 W Division in Wicker Park, is proposing two mid-rise residential towers in Logan Square along Milwaukee Avenue near the California Blue Line station. The two towers, one 14 stories and the other 10 stories, would have 231 units and 7,100 square feet of retail but only 72 car parking spaces.

The relatively low amount of car parking is possible because Buono can take advantage of the 2013 transit-oriented development ordinance, which cuts parking minimums in half for residential developments near train stations.

Chicago's zoning code would normally require at least 239 car parking spaces for this development -- eight for the retail space, and one for each household. That mandate would have harmed this thriving part of Logan Square by adding more automobile traffic, getting in the way of people, buses and bicycles.

Last year, when Adam Hebert was struggling against parking requirements so he could open a restaurant and bar, he told Streetsblog, "In the Logan Square community, everybody bikes everywhere. It doesn’t make sense to put in parking where people bike. I’d rather put in bike racks."

The TOD ordinance allows Buono to completely get out of the mandate to build eight parking spaces for retail, but the requirement for 231 residential parking spaces can only be cut down to 116. To get down to the 72 surface parking spaces Buono is proposing, he will probably have to change the property's zoning.

Parking is very expensive to build and maintain. The lower parking ratios enabled by TOD ordinance mean cost savings can be passed on to tenants.

The architect, Jon Heinert, has also proposed doubling the sidewalk width to 25 feet.

Curbed pointed out this development is one of five developments proposed or under construction on Milwaukee within a few blocks of each other.

The above map shows the property in dark blue (upper) among other vacant lots along the Pedestrian Street.