17-7-1500 Milwaukee Avenue Special Character Overlay District.

   17-7-1501 Boundaries. The Milwaukee Avenue Special Character Overlay District generally consists of all lots adjacent to Milwaukee Avenue, between Western Avenue on the south and Ridgeway Avenue on the north, except that the overlay district shall not apply to Planned Developments approved prior to July 1, 2024, Parks and Open Space zoning districts, or areas, districts, places, buildings, structures, or works of art designated as Chicago Landmarks.

   17-7-1502 Purpose. The purpose of the Milwaukee Avenue Special Character Overlay District is to preserve the unique and distinctive character of the Milwaukee Avenue commercial corridor and provide design guidelines for the rehabilitation of existing buildings and new construction. The distinctive character of the Milwaukee Avenue commercial corridor includes a diagonal street layout resulting in unique patterns and lot configurations, one- and two-part commercial block, enframed window wall, false front, freestanding, two-part vertical block, and residential building types, as well as Romanesque Revival, Queen Anne, Italian Renaissance, Tudor Revival, Beaux-Arts Classicism, Late Classical Revival, Neoclassical, Spanish Revival, Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern, and Commercial Vernacular architectural styles.

   17-7-1503 Publication. Any building built, added, altered, or rehabilitated within the Milwaukee Avenue Special Character Overlay District must be consistent with the Milwaukee Avenue Urban Identity Design Guidelines published by the Department of Planning and Development (“Guidelines”). These Guidelines shall be published by ordinance and made available for view online on the Department of Planning and Development website. The Guidelines shall be applicable to:

      1.   New construction or exterior modifications to existing buildings requiring a building permit application.

      2.   New construction or exterior modifications requiring applications for Zoning Map Amendments.

   17-7-1504 District-specific Guidelines. Design guidelines for rehabilitation, additions, alterations, and new construction in the Milwaukee Avenue Special Character Overlay District are detailed in the Guidelines. The Guidelines address various aspects of design for existing buildings and new construction. Proposed projects must be consistent with the Guidelines.

      1.   For existing buildings, these Guidelines set requirements for:

         (a)   Masonry repair or replacement

         (b)   Architectural metal cladding repair or replacement

         (c)   Storefronts

         (d)   Canopies

         (e)   Building lighting

         (f)   Exterior facade repair or replacement

         (g)   Entrances/doors to upper floors

         (h)   Windows

         (i)   Roofs/rooflines/cornices

         (j)   Siting

         (k)   Scale

         (l)   Design and compatibility

         (m)   Materials

      2.   For new construction, these Guidelines set requirements for:

         (a)   Parking and services areas

         (b)   Building setback and orientation

         (c)   Height and scale

         (d)   Massing

         (e)   Building width

         (f)   Materials

         (g)   Ground floor entries and storefronts

         (h)   New or replacement canopies

         (i)   Building lighting

         (j)   Articulation at upper floor facades and rooflines

   17-7-1505 Administrative Adjustments. In addition to the administrative adjustments authorized by Section 17-13-1000, the Zoning Administrator or their designee is authorized to approve an administrative adjustment to waive or modify any district-specific guideline specified in Section 17-7-1504. Such an administrative adjustment may be approved only when the Zoning Administrator or their designee determines that the proposed adjustment meets the following criteria:

      1.   The proposed adjustment results in a development quality equal to or better than what would have been required without the adjustment; and

      2.   The proposed adjustment will be in keeping with the established character of the Milwaukee Avenue Special Character Overlay District; and

      3.   The proposed adjustment meets the general approval criteria of Section 17-13-1007-B.

   17-7-1506 Prohibited Uses. The following uses are expressly prohibited within the boundaries of the Milwaukee Avenue Special Character Overlay District:

      1.   Strip centers;

      2.   Drive-through facilities;

      3.   Vehicle sales and service uses involving any outdoor storage of vehicles or goods or car washes;

      4.   Gas stations; and

      6.*   Residential storage warehouses.

* Editor’s note – Numbering as set forth in Coun. J. 7-17-24, p. 14576, § 1; future legislation will correct if needed.

   17-7-1507 Character Buildings. Character buildings are buildings that have been identified as having a unique historical, architectural, or other impact on the district environment. Rehabilitation of identified Character Buildings is a priority in accordance with Section 17-7-0601-A. For the purposes of this section, the following buildings have been identified as Character Buildings. The Appendix to the Guidelines may provide additional information regarding Character Buildings identified in this Section.

      Building Address
      1950-1956 N Milwaukee Ave
      1958 N Milwaukee Ave
      1960 N Milwaukee Ave
      1965 N Milwaukee Ave
      2016-2030 N Milwaukee Ave
      2040-2044 N Milwaukee Ave   
      2043 N Milwaukee Ave
      2046-2048 N Milwaukee Ave
      2066 N Milwaukee Ave
      2092 N Milwaukee Ave
      2094 N Milwaukee Ave
      2100 N Milwaukee Ave
      2101 N Milwaukee Ave
      2122-2124 N Milwaukee Ave
      2165-2171 N Milwaukee Ave   
      2206 N Milwaukee Ave
      2208 N Milwaukee Ave
      2214 N Milwaukee Ave
      2226 N California Ave
      2280 N Milwaukee Ave
      2300-2302 N Milwaukee Ave
      2301-2313 N Milwaukee Ave   
      2315 N Milwaukee Ave
      2317-2319 N Milwaukee Ave
      2320-2322 N Milwaukee Ave   
      2323 N Milwaukee Ave
      2327 N Milwaukee Ave
      2332 N Milwaukee Ave
      2333 N Milwaukee Ave
      2337 N Milwaukee Ave
      2339 N Milwaukee Ave
      2341 N Milwaukee Ave
      2344 N Milwaukee Ave
      2345 N Milwaukee Ave
      2349 N Milwaukee Ave
      2351 N Milwaukee Ave
      2355 N Milwaukee Ave
      2357 N Milwaukee Ave
      2363 N Milwaukee Ave
      2367 N Milwaukee Ave
      2381-2385 N Milwaukee Ave
      2392 N Milwaukee Ave
      2403 W Homer St
      2410-2414 N Milwaukee Ave
      2413 N Milwaukee Ave
      2417 N Milwaukee Ave
      2418 N Milwaukee Ave
      2419 N Milwaukee Ave
      2421 N Milwaukee Ave
      2423 N Milwaukee Ave
      2427 N Milwaukee Ave
      2432 N Milwaukee Ave
      2441 W Armitage Ave
      2443-2447 N Milwaukee Ave
      2449-2451 N Milwaukee Ave
      2451 N Sacramento Ave
      2453 N Milwaukee Ave
      2455-2457 N Milwaukee Ave
      2471-2475 N Milwaukee Ave
      2515 N Milwaukee Ave
      2521 N Milwaukee Ave
      2523 N Milwaukee Ave
      2525 N Milwaukee Ave
      2529-2531 N Milwaukee Ave
      2620 N Milwaukee Ave
      2624 N Milwaukee Ave
      2628 N Milwaukee Ave
      2630 N Milwaukee Ave
      2636-2656 N Milwaukee Ave
      2639-2641 N Milwaukee Ave
      2643-2651 N Milwaukee Ave
      2653 N Milwaukee Ave
      2655 N Milwaukee Ave
      2664-2718 N Milwaukee Ave
      2715-2729 N Milwaukee Ave
      2731-2739 N Milwaukee Ave
      2821 N Milwaukee Ave
      2822 N Milwaukee Ave
      2829 N Milwaukee Ave
      2831 N Milwaukee Ave
      2832-2834 N Milwaukee Ave
      2833-2837 N Milwaukee Ave
      2839-2841 N Milwaukee Ave
      2840 N Milwaukee Ave
      2843-2845 N Milwaukee Ave
      2854 N Milwaukee Ave
      2864-2866 N Milwaukee Ave
      2867 N Milwaukee Ave
      2868 N Milwaukee Ave
      2869 N Milwaukee Ave
      2871 N Milwaukee Ave
      2874 N Milwaukee Ave
      2875 N Milwaukee Ave
      2880 N Milwaukee Ave
      2882 N Milwaukee Ave
      2883 N Milwaukee Ave
      2885 N Milwaukee Ave
      2888 N Milwaukee Ave
      2889 N Milwaukee Ave
      2890 N Milwaukee Ave
      2891 N Milwaukee Ave
      2894-2896 N Milwaukee Ave
      2898 N Milwaukee Ave
      2909 N Milwaukee Ave
      2912 N Milwaukee Ave
      2915 N Milwaukee Ave
      2918 N Milwaukee Ave
      2919 N Milwaukee Ave
      2922 N Milwaukee Ave
      2923 N Milwaukee Ave
      2924 N Milwaukee Ave
      2928 N Milwaukee Ave
      2930 N Milwaukee Ave
      2934 N Milwaukee Ave
      2935 N Milwaukee Ave
      2943 N Milwaukee Ave
      2953 N Milwaukee Ave
      2955 N Milwaukee Ave
      2956-2972 N Milwaukee Ave
      2957 N Milwaukee Ave
      2978 N Milwaukee Ave
      2988 N Milwaukee Ave
      3002-3010 N Milwaukee Ave
      3004 N Elbridge Ave
      3350 W Diversey Ave

   17-7-1508 Demolition. An application for the demolition of a Character Building shall include an affidavit certifying that the applicant has provided written notice to the local alderman at least thirty (30) days prior to filing the application. This notice shall include: (a) the street address of the existing Character Building; and (b) the name and mailing address of the applicant.

(Added Coun. J. 7-17-24, p. 14576, § 1)