In The News

Inside, October 10-16, 2007 – 7-story mixed-use building to replace longtime Lincoln Square antique dealer

It’s the end of an era for a Lincoln Square institution. For decades, Penn Dutchman Antiques, located at 4912 N. Western Ave., has been known to antique collectors as one of the city’s most intriguing antique stores, but it soon will be replaced by a seven-story mixed-used condominium development by North Side-based developer New Haven Homes of Illinois. Also coming down are the adjoining auto repair shop and the neighboring insurance office and medical office building.
At a recent community meeting held at St. Matthias School, residents in attendance gave their approval for a zoning change that allows the developer to build a seven-story building described as a "Gateway to Lincoln Square." The change is part of Ald. Gene Schulter’s (47th) vision to redevelop the area north of the Lincoln Square Mall.
The first floor of the building is projected to have about 8,800 to 9,000 square feet of commercial space. Condominiums will be located above the store(s). New Haven Homes is also the developer of a 31-unit nearby development located at 4949-5007 N. Lincoln Ave. Known as the Townhomes on the Square, the buildings were designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Sullivan and Goulette. This architectural firm is expected to design the seven-story structure as well.
According to the developer, the Townhomes on the Square were inspired by Chicago’s Prairie School of architecture of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Prairie School architects, including Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, emphasized a building’s relationship to its surrounding landscape and also the use of natural materials. It also favored open and integrated rooms.
"The Prairie Style architecture of the ‘Townhomes on the Square’ has been thoughtfully designed to weave into the fabric of Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood. The 31 townhomes [have been] designed around a park-like setting including a water fountain, prairie-style landscaping, and Old Chicago streetlights," according to the New Haven Web site. It is not yet known if the new building will also follow the principles of the Prairie School.
New Haven has been busy building single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and lofts on the North Side since 1996.
Known for its great variety of antiques, Penn Dutchman Antiques has been a favorite of not only collectors but also Hollywood. It has supplied props to movies such as the feature-film version of "The Untouchables" that starred Kevin Costner and "Uncle Buck," a comedy that starred the late John Candy.
While Penn Dutchman has sold all sorts of memorabilia, including Civil War relics; sports, automobile, police, and railroad collectibles; as well as pottery and porcelain, it has long been known for its collection of 10,000 postcards.
In 2003, New Haven Homes redeveloped the former site of Betty’s Resale Shop, a junk shop located at 3435 N. Lincoln Ave. that had been considered a longtime eyesore by area residents. Prior to selling her property to New Haven, the owner of the resale shop had made numerous attempts to re-open her business after it had been closed by the City of Chicago for what had been described as "building violations."

Chicago Sun Times, July 30, 2003 – Developer Aims to Join Downtown Office Derby

Many Faceted Guy: Keith Esses is a former jeweler now specializing in a different kind of precious gem, property in Lakeview. Esses has had a successful run of housing developments as principal of New Haven Homes of Illinois LLC. Now, one of his deals has brought cheers from Lakeview citizens, always a tough crowd. Esses has torn down the old Betty’s Resale Shop, a longtime eyesore at 3435 N. Lincoln. He even held a demolition party for local residents last month. He plans to build 12 condos plus 3 commercial storefronts on the site. Records show Esses and business partner Jeffrey Schulhoff bought the parcel from Betty’s proprietor Mary Gonzalez. Meanwhile, Esses has bought a one-acre former factory site at 1807 W. Belmont, where he plans 14 town houses and seven single-family homes. He switched to real estate after 25 years of working behind the counter at the jewelry store his father founded, A. Esses and Son. It was in the Chicago Board of Trade building for more than 60 years.

Bye Bye Betty’s

It was a party with a twist—a demolition party. "Neighbors and businesses surrounding Betty's happily came to witness the teardown. It's the end of a neighborhood eyesore, cited numerous times for code violations," said Keith Esses, a principal of New Haven Homes, which bought Betty's Resale Shop. The West Lake View Association and the Lake View Chamber of Commerce (LVCC) had long maintained that Betty's Resale was an impending catastrophe.

Esses decided to throw the impromptu party "to celebrate a victory for area families." In its place, New Haven will build 12 quality condos and three stores. The condos will range from 1,100 to 1,600 square feet and cost from $300,000 to $400,000. "The Chamber is excited at the prospect of a new development which includes commercial use on the first floor," said Heather Way, LVCC executive director.

Lincoln Park Booster, June 2003 – Lakeview Resale Shop Razed

Some 20 people turned out for a Friday, June 6 party – complete with coffee and cake – to kick off demolition of the former Betty’s Resale emporium at 3435-45 N. Lincoln.

The thrift store or junk shop, depending on your viewpoint, was the target of more than three years of fire and safety code inspections and Housing Court battles, in which manager Mary Gonzalez was at one point chastised by Housing Court Judge Brendan McCooey for “contumacious” behavior (a lawyerlike way of saying she ignored repeated court orders not to stop doing business until clearing up more than 40 alleged violations, ranging from “noxious odors” to furniture blocking the sidewalk). What should have been merely a health and safety issue eventually escalated into a class clash of sorts, with Gonzalez’s supporters claiming that she was just another gentrification victim. Community groups like the West Lake View Association and the Lake View Chamber of Commerce, however, argued that Gonzalez’s buildings were disasters waiting to happen. The battle finally ended in late 2000, when Gonzalez and her mother, Betty Merker, finally sold the property, reportedly for nearly $1 million, to New Haven Homes developer Keith Esses.

Esses said he will replace the two two-story buildings on the site with three stores and 12 condos. The units, ranging from 1,100 to 1,800 square feet, will run for $300,000 to the low $400,000, said Esses. “$300,000 is actually considered affordable in this neighborhood.” Esses said.

Chicago Tribune, Dec 22, 2001 – All within easy reach; Home buyers discover urban charm in condo units with retail stores below.

Chicago neighborhoods such as Lakeview are seeing `a growing trend of combining very high quality residential units with ground floor businesses.' -- Developer Keith Esses of New Haven Homes.

When condo owner Rosemary Colella feels hunger coming on, she doesn't have to prepare a meal or drive to a restaurant. All she has to do is descend a flight of stairs. "As a resident of the building, if I haven't had time to grab a sandwich or have dinner, I may go to the Quizno's," said the 32-year- old resident of Campbell Court in downtown Arlington Heights, referring to a sandwich shop that shares retail space on the ground floor with a tailor and a tanning salon. "Its very convenient; it's right in the building." Once, living "above the store" was considered an option of last resort. But with more and more city and suburban mixed-use buildings featuring condominiums above ground-floor retail stores and restaurants, it's become an attractive choice for Colella and many others.

In city neighborhoods like west Lakeview, main thoroughfares are suddenly peppered with condos above ground-floor retail stores and eateries. And these are anything but the nondescript buildings once associated with commercial streets in Chicago. "You're seeing quality residential developments with a store as a first-floor tenant," said Keith Esses, principal of Chicago's New Haven Homes of Illinois, whose Gateway Terraces at Belmont Avenue and Paulina Street has a State Farm Insurance agency at ground level. "You're seeing it throughout Lakeview, particularly in the Lincoln- Belmont-Ashland area," he said. "You have the old Wieboldt's building, with the Powerhouse Gym on the ground floor and loft condominiums above it. "You have the Cinema Lofts development, with a salon on the ground floor. Ours is part of a growing trend of combining very high quality residential units with ground floor businesses."