The project is yet another encouraging sign for Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood
As the south side community of Woodlawn watches its housing market heat up as the neighborhood prepares to welcome the highly anticipated Obama Presidential Center, a new mixed-use project is ready to dig in at 6253 S. Cottage Grove Avenue. Situated just steps from the Cottage Grove Green Line station, the transit-oriented development (TOD) was just granted the city’s OK to begin construction.
Developer Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) has teamed with architectural firm Gensler for the project, which is known by the official name of Woodlawn Station. When complete, it will deliver 55 mixed-income apartments, 15,000 square feet of ground floor retail space, and 39 parking stalls. An additional 15 units on scattered sites located one block to the south on Maryland Ave will also be part of the development.
Interestingly, the permit for Woodlawn Station specifies the use of a “Geopier” foundation. Unlike most Chicago building’s that utilize a drilled caisson type of support, this project will use rammed piers in pre-augered pits to minimize footing size. Engineering-minded types looking to learn more about the process can check out this explanatory video.
Woodlawn Station’s permit estimates the total construction cost at roughly $16 million. According to POAH Chicago, the project is expected to be completed some time in 2018. The site is currently a vacant lot.