Alderman Jim Gardiner Rejects Margolins’ Apartment Proposal

A proposed 40-unit apartment building in Jefferson Park has been shut down.

Alderman Jim Gardiner, of the 45th Ward, rejected a developer’s request to build a three-story, 41-foot-tall multifamily structure at the corner of North Central and North Elston avenues, Block Club reported.

Gardiner’s decision came in response to neighbors’ concerns regarding the building’s height, its potential impact on traffic and parking provisions.

The Margolin family, which purchased the site in 2021, aimed to repurpose the vacant lot that previously housed DiLeo’s restaurant and most recently a Republic Bank branch. Initially proposed as a 52-unit complex, community pushback led to reduction in the number of units to 45, and eventually down to 40. However, despite these adjustments, neighbors remained dissatisfied with the density of the development, deeming it out of place for the Northwest Side neighborhood.

The revised plan called for 61 parking spots, a fitness room and bike storage. Each unit would feature a private balcony and laundry.

Project attorney John Pikarski defended the plans, stating that rent would be market-rate, and traffic generated by the building would be minimal. But some residents expressed fears of increased congestion and decreased visibility at the already problematic Elston-Central intersection.

During the meeting, several alternative suggestions were proposed, including increasing parking spaces or considering condominiums instead of rentals. One resident even advocated for the site to be repurposed as a park, restaurant, senior center or library.

Despite the project’s proponents highlighting the need for denser developments with improved public transit access, just three of the 70 attendees expressed support for the proposal. Gardiner, acknowledging the prevailing sentiment, indicated his reluctance to endorse the project following the meeting.

As discussions continue, uncertainties loom over the project’s future. Pikarski hinted at the possibility of legal action if the developer’s requested zoning change is ultimately denied.

“I’m not saying that we’re going to, but recognize that if people make an irrational decision, or a decision that is too harsh, that’s what the courts are there for,” he said.

—Quinn Donoghue