CHICAGO | 1620 N. LaSalle Drive (Old Town Canvas) | 391 FT | 36 FLOORS

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by pilsenarch

Yes, the fix was in, and time was most likely working in the developer's favor... again, this is my business...

I mean, whatever right?. I'm just glad it's through this first hurdle and now on to zoning then full city council.

The building is only 4' shorter than the original proposal.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by left of center

They apparently don't want any families with kids in this neighborhood...

I mean, maybe Fern Hill will get some families with kids or roommate groups in the 3BR units, but more likely it is the same kind of wealthy, empty-nester folks who are protesting the tower. They are downsizing from a house, but a 1BR or 2BR feels too small for them, and they have the money to pay for more space than they actually "need". The location here is full of amenities, Second City, Old Town restaurants, right next to the park.

[lakeshoredrive]

Looks like the current proposal got approved.

[left of center]

Great! Eat it, NIMBYs!

[Jstange059]

https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate...per-fern-hill-36-story-residential-tower

*sigh*

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by Jstange059

https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate...per-fern-hill-36-story-residential-tower

*sigh*

Their last gasp...

[left of center]

If people spent just half of this effort/time/resources on actually bettering their communities and promoting growth, instead of just being obtuse roadblocks to progress, we'd be living in a better world.

So sad and frustrating.

[dreamy-developer]

But the condo association’s lawsuit said the developer failed to send legally-required direct notices to residents within 250 feet of the development, making the project in violation of Chicago’s planned development laws.

Someone explain to me like I am five that has a slightly better understanding of law and this bureaucracy. What are the chances or odds of this being successful in all honesty?

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by dreamy-developer

Someone explain to me like I am five that has a slightly better understanding of law and this bureaucracy. What are the chances or odds of this being successful in all honesty?

Their odds of success are virtually non-existent. These lawsuits never work out (see Wolf Point, Lincoln Commons, 111 S. Peoria, etc), and the claim that neighbors weren't notified is laughable.

Some people with lots of money just can't fathom not getting their way all the time. And some lawyers are more than happy to bill these people.

[BruceP]

So, the condo association of a 43-story condo building with hundreds of units is complaining that another condo building is going to cause all kinds of congestion? Spare me.

[left of center]

Originally Posted by BruceP

So, the condo association of a 43-story condo building with hundreds of units is complaining that another condo building is going to cause all kinds of congestion? Spare me.

And a shorter, smaller building at that

[Ricochet48]

They're just trying to prevent it from being built as it will shade their pool deck.

That's why when I bought my highrise unit, I made as sure as I could that the closest buildings weren't going anywhere anytime soon (could always happen, but unlikely and one side is mandated to only be 2 stories or a park).

[BVictor1]

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/real-estate/commercial/ccb-old-town-canvas-lawsuit-20260406/

Old Town condo owners lose bid to halt new apartment tower

By
Rachel Herzog
April 07, 2026 05:50 AM CDT
A judge granted a motion to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to stop the development of a 36-story apartment tower in Old Town from moving forward, a setback for a group of nearby residents opposed to the project.

Cook County Circuit Court Associate Judge Myron Mackoff sided with attorneys for the city and developer Fern Hill yesterday in dismissing a complaint aiming to void the rezoning of the site at 1600 N. LaSalle Drive, where Fern Hill plans to build a 349-unit high-rise. The lawsuit, which was filed in July on behalf of a condo association at 1660 N. LaSalle Drive, argued the project was out of character with its surroundings and wouldn’t work for the neighborhood.

Mackoff also said he did not see how the condo board had a constitutional right to property values, as Murphy had argued.

an attorney for the city, had pointed out earlier in the hearing that the condo building at 1660 N. LaSalle Drive, where the plaintiffs live, is 42 stories.

Mackoff also dismissed another claim in the lawsuit that argued the rezoning violated the plaintiff’s due process rights. The complaint had alleged that property owners and others impacted by the zoning change weren’t properly notified about the proposal. McLaughlin said there were years of community engagement meetings about the proposal and multiple public hearings, and that the developer had notified property owners in the area.

[r18tdi]

Good riddance.

Dear attorney: No more scamming adults into thinking they have a legal right to views!

[left of center]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

an attorney for the city, had pointed out earlier in the hearing that the condo building at 1660 N. LaSalle Drive, where the plaintiffs live, is 42 stories.

The epitome of hypocrisy

[Steely Dan]

The way that these entitled, self-important NIMBY bozos keep losing might actually be my favorite part of this whole project!!

[left of center]

The best part is the legal precedence it sets. Future lawsuits like this will likely be tossed out faster or even outright dismissed by judges, which will make other NIMBY groups wary of even filing such suits to begin with.

Its a win-win for development in the city.

[cloudbod]

Very satisfying news. I'm used to seeing the rich be rewarded for obvious hypocrisy and selfishness, so this feels super refreshing haha. Hopefully this didn't delay the start at all (which seems to be the main goal of these sorts of lawsuits, right?)

[munchymunch]

Ah what a dream to be old, rich and have enough time to waste on frivolous lawsuits.