A piece of Wrigleyville history is set to meet the wrecking ball.
The Chicago City Council approved a rezoning application to turn a trio of beloved century-old buildings across from Wrigley Field's right field bleachers on Sheffield Avenue into one 29-unit apartment building. The action came despite a concerted neighborhood effort to save the buildings.
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Aldermen passed the proposal Wednesday over the objection of some residents, who argued the buildings should be preserved due to their historical significance and the possible impact to the neighborhood's character, Block Club Chicago reports.
The ownership group behind the project, which rooftop property investor Marc Anguiano is spearheading, intends to demolish the properties at 3627, 3631 and 3633 N. Sheffield Ave. to construct a five-story, 29-unit apartment building with 11 parking spaces along the alley behind the building, according to Block Club. The rooftop design also includes a pair of pickleball courts.
The owners of the three buildings formerly sold rooftop tickets to fans for Chicago Cubs games, but those seats have largely remained empty since 2015 due to the massive video scoreboard in right field installed during stadium renovations that blocks the rooftops' views.
Cubs fans know one building well for its prominent “Eamus Catuli” sign, which roughly translates from Latin to “Let’s go Cubs.” The sign hung atop 3633 N. Sheffield Ave. for years before it moved next door.
The sign was previously displayed next to another sign that utilized a series of numbers to detail the team's misfortune. Before the Cubs' 2016 World Series victory, the counter read AC0071108. AC stood for anno catuli, which translates to “the year of the Cubs,” and the numbers meant it had been zero years since a division title, 71 years since a league pennant and 108 years since the Cubs had won it all.
After the Cubs triumphed in the Fall Classic, the counter reset to AC000000.
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Longtime Wrigleyville resident Lisa Sorenson started an online petition for city officials to preserve the buildings and shelve the development, which garnered 2,900 signatures. But it likely won't stop the project.
“It’s disappointing that the alderman is pushing his and the developer’s agenda without taking into account community feedback,” Sorenson told Block Club. “The neighborhood is not anti-development, but to destroy these three iconic buildings is unacceptable.”
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