Plans to redevelop a shuttered Chicago public school building in Andersonville are steadily moving forward, but there are a couple of more hurdles to clear before the building can be transformed into a mixed-use asset. The Zoning Commission granted a zoning change that would allow Svigos Asset Management to revamp Trumbull Elementary School into 49 residential units and arts space, but it's seeking landmark status for the 108-year-old building, which would allow Svigos to qualify for historic preservation tax credits.
Trumbull, at 5200 North Ashland Ave, was one of 50 schools closed by Chicago Public Schools at the end of the 2012-13 school year—the single-largest mass closing of public schools in the nation's history. CPS later sold Trumbull to Svigos for $5.25M, well above its appraised value. The facility was designed by CPS lead architect Dwight H. Perkins, one of the leaders of Prairie Style architecture. Trumbull is considered to be Perkins' most successful design.
Another possible bump in the road for Svigos: Timeline Theatre, which is expected to be one of Trumbull's tenants, is lagging with its plans to convert the school's first-floor auditorium, according to Edgeville Buzz. Both Svigos and Timeline are pushing for the landmark status. [EB]
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