by BRIAN NADIG

6-1-13

A new pancake eatery at the former Blue Angel restaurant at 5310 N. Milwaukee Ave. and a second-story addition to an existing commercial building at 5396-98 N. Milwaukee Ave. are among area development projects.

Elly’s Pancake House, which has five locations in the Chicago area, recently signed a lease for the former Blue Angel building, whose most recent occupant was an Irish pub. The Blue Angel, which closed in 2011 after 31 years of operation, was famous for its extensive menu and late-night dining crowd, as the restaurant was open 24 hours a day.

Elly’s, whose menu includes, eggs, crepes, soups, salads and sandwiches, will not be opening its Gladstone Park location for a few months due to planned renovations. Its hours of operation have not been determined, but one of Elly’s existing locations is open 24 hours a day, while the others are open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Also in the area, a zoning change is being proposed to accommodate the construction of a 6,000-square-foot second-floor addition to a former auto parts store at 5396-98 N. Milwaukee Ave. Riders Needs, which sells and services motorcycles, is relocating to the site from its existing facility at 3818 W. Montrose Ave.

Plans call for the 7,800-square-foot parcel, which is located at the southwest corner of Milwaukee and Manila avenues, to be rezoned from B3-1 to C2-3. Project attorney Mark Kupiec said that the zoning change is required due to the increase in the size of the building, which will measure about 12,000 square feet when completed, and to provide relief on parking requirements.

The planned building could be constructed under the more restrictive C2-2, but that classification would require 13 parking spaces for the project, which calls for about 10 spaces in the rear of the property. Several nearby properties, including the former Gateway Chevrolet showroom at 5371-73 N. Milwaukee Ave., are zoned C2-1.

Rider Needs owner Mariusz Juszczyk said that the shop project would not be completed until next year and that the building would be about twice as big as the store’s current facility. Alderman John Arena (45th) is planning to hold a community on the proposal.

Meanwhile, several properties at 5610-36 N. Milwaukee Ave., where the Siegel’s department store was once located, were recently sold. The owner is listed as a trust, and possible redevelopment plans have not been announced.

In other news, Alderman Mary O’Connor (41st) has delayed action on her proposed ordinance to rezone the site of an accounting office at 6756 N. Harlem Ave. from RS-2, which is intended for single-family homes, to B3-1, which allows for stores and restaurants. It is believed that the site was mistakenly rezoned for residential use about 20 years ago, said O’Connor’s chief of staff Lisa Ryan.

Due to parking concerns expressed by residents, the ordinance may be revised to B1-1, which is designed for less intensive uses than B3-1, Ryan said. There are no redevelopment plans for the 3,125-square-foot parcel, but the site’s owner has expressed an interest in selling the property, Ryan said.

In the 38th Ward, the owner of a three-flat is attempting to legalize the building by having the property rezoned from RS3 to the less restrictive RT3.5, said Alderman Timothy Cullerton. He added that his office has received no objections to the plan and that it is common for 2 ½-story buildings in the area to have a basement apartment.







