Plans for a Target store in Cabrini-Green appear to be advancing swiftly as the company recently jumped its first zoning hurdle for the project.

Last week, the Chicago Plan Commission unanimously approved a zoning change for a 3.61-acre property at the northwest corner of Division and Larrabee streets to make way for a 150,000-square-foot store proposed by the Minneapolis-based Target Corp.

The store is slated to be built on the site of the former William Green Homes, a collection of eight public housing high-rises which dated back to the early 1960s. The Chicago Housing Authority demolished the remaining buildings last year, and in March made public its plans to give the land to Target in exchange for a property of equal value.

Designs for the three-story building — unveiled by Target representatives at the hearing on July 21 — include a 318-space internal parking garage, a lock-up area for 50 bicycles, plans for widened sidewalks along Division, a green roof and perimeter landscaping on the property. The building will also contain a 35,000-square-foot warehouse space on the third level.

“We’re really proud of the project,” said Danielle Cassel, Target’s zoning attorney.

Cassel said that the development would be financed entirely by the company, adding that Target would not seek tax increment financing (TIF) subsidies from the city for the project.

In addition to the zoning amendment, the commission also granted CHA permission to develop a temporary “commercial garden” in the area surrounding the store site.

John Gerut, senior vice president of development for CHA, explained that the garden would be established to “keep the land active” while the agency works on plans to redevelop the parcel.

“[That process] could take some time,” he said.

Gerut said that CHA was currently in negotiations with City Farm to oversee the garden project. The urban farming group currently operates a community garden on a city-owned lot nearby at the corner of Division Street and Clybourn Avenue.

Citing the high number of stalled commercial projects in the area (namely the New City YMCA redevelopment northwest of the site), Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) said that the community was “blessed to have a corporation that is self-funded like Target” bringing jobs and tax revenue into the neighborhood.

“A lot of people in this community, particularly the homeowners, saw this is as a way to stabilize their property values,” he said.

The alderman said that the company has worked with the community to address concerns about traffic and other quality-of-life issues brought up at recent public meetings.

Burnett, who is also a member of the plan commission, recused himself from voting on the project.

Though happy to see a Target moving in, Resident Kim Winzeler said she hoped that the project wouldn’t set a trend in the area.

“We don’t want to be a land of big box stores,” said Winzeler, who lives in the North Town Village development just north of the site.

The introduction of Target into Cabrini reflects a gradual sea change taking place in the neighborhood, where the storied high-rises that were once considered incubators of crime and violence have disappeared, making way for acres of vacant land which border the increasingly affluent neighborhoods of Old Town and Lincoln Park.

CHA has completed a number of mixed-income developments in Cabrini, but the agency is still behind on hundreds of public housing units that were promised to be returned to the area.

It’s because of this delay in public housing development that the deal with Target was made in bad taste, said former Cabrini resident Maurice Edwards.

“I think that’s a slap in the face to public housing residents,” said Edwards, who serves as vice president of Cabrini’s resident-led Local Advisory Council.

CHA officials have repeatedly said that the agency plans to fulfill its quotas on replacing public housing in Cabrini.

Target has also stated that it will set aside 75 retail jobs at the store for public housing residents, per its agreement with CHA.

While plans for the Cabrini store look to be moving ahead steadily, few facts have come out regarding the other end of the bargain.

Target Regional Manager Forrest Russell said after the hearing that the company and CHA have identified a parcel that the agency will receive in return for the store site.

Russell said that Target was not ready to speak on the whereabouts of the land, but stated that it was “of equal size” and located within in the Cabrini area.

Cassel said that the work on the project was expected to start next year, with a potential opening in 2013.

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By CD from near north side
Posted: 11/25/2011 1:19 PM

THANK GOD. i have been saying for years i hope a target goes there. i am just a couple blocks south in a new development that is mixed-income and i think it would be great. a big step towards revitalizing the area even more. it's a nice looking design too. can't wait til 2013 now.

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By kiyona from logan square
Posted: 10/12/2011 0:43 AM

I forgot to add in my comment for the Wilson and yard location. The parking mural and main floor entrance was speechless, just too pretty. I always try to visit any Target store I pass or hear about:0)

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By kiyona from logan square
Posted: 09/21/2011 7:41 PM

I think this location looks great. I also believe the State Street location was an exceptional choice. Many people may or may not realize that this is only the beginning. A lot of work and maintenance (the care required to preserve in good order) is always required (to need;to demand or oblige). I'll try to leave it at that. GOOD LUCK TARGET!! I have always believed that all any of us can do is try to make things better.

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By BH from Old Town
Posted: 08/28/2011 9:15 PM

This store is great! I can not wait for it to go up. I own a home in the area and it has lost at least 20% of it\\\'s value. I would love to see Division and Clybourn flurish.

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By B.J.D. from River North
Posted: 08/18/2011 10:30 AM

This building looks amazing and will bring a great flow-in of people into the area. Other Chicago based Target stores are conjested and this location is prime. My family and I have lived in the area for 0ver 7 year and finally we have an anchor store to spur retail and other businesses to increase commerce. I am encouraged with the additon of jobs and the fact that this project is self funded by Target. I am looking forward to a quick trip to Target and can see us there repeatedly.

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By PJ from West Loop
Posted: 08/15/2011 9:06 PM

This is actually a nicer design than the normal suburban bland beige box Targets. This incorporates modern design elements. Not sure what exactly you want, Old Town Neighbor. Perhaps we should bring back the crumbling, failed public housing on the site?

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By Boyee from Mid-North in Lincoln Park
Posted: 08/05/2011 9:23 PM

Ellyn Drathring from Bucktown: Also Bucktown's original borders were Fullerton Ave, Damen St., Armitage Ave. and Western Ave. When the Kennedy Expressway was built, it expanded to the Kennedy instead of Damen Ave as it western border and south to Bloomingdale Ave. some realtors try to say Bucktown goes to North Ave., but this is only so they can get more money. Wicker Park is bordered by Bloomingdale Ave, Damen Ave, Division St. and Western Ave.

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By Boyee from Mid-North in Lincoln Park
Posted: 08/05/2011 9:18 PM

Ellyn Drathring from Bucktown: Old Town and Old Town Triangle are in 2 separate community areas, Near North Side and Lincoln Park respectively. This new Target does not go anywhere near North Ave., so it is not bordering Lincoln Park at all.

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By Boyee from Mid-North in Lincoln Park
Posted: 08/05/2011 9:16 PM

To Ellyn Drathring from Bucktown: Old Town is really 2 neighborhoods in 1, The original boundaries are now called the Old Town Triangle which is entirely in what is now Lincoln Park (Diversey Pkwy. Lake Michigan, North Avenue, and the Chicago River) The area between Clark St., North Ave., Larrabee Street, Clybourn Ave, and Division St. is now known as Old Town. Both neighborhoods are part of a larger Old Town in its entirety.

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By Boyee from Mid-North in Lincoln Park
Posted: 08/05/2011 9:12 PM

To Ellyn Drathring from Bucktown: Actually, the Old Town Triangle, which originally was all Old Town comprised is one of the Lincoln Park Community Area's 8 neighborhoods including: Lincoln Central, Mid-North, Old Town Triangle, Park West, RANCH Triangle, Sheffield, West DePaul and Wrightwood. In the 1950s during the civil rights movement Old Town was expanded past North Avenue south to Division Street, between Larrabee St. and Clark Street and NE of Clybourn Ave.

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By Ellyn Drathring from Bucktown
Posted: 08/04/2011 2:31 PM

Old Town is a separate neighborhood, but Lincoln Park is very nearby and will still reap the rewards of gentrification. Everyone gets so excited that these types of stores will build up the economy and provide jobs, with no regard to how it affects local business and culture.

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By Anon from Chgo
Posted: 08/04/2011 0:13 AM

To Boyee - For your information, Old Town is a part of Lincoln Park.

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By Boyee from Mid-North in Lincoln Park
Posted: 08/02/2011 8:53 PM

This site does not border Lincoln Park at all. It borders Old Town's SW border.

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By Neighbor from Old Town Square
Posted: 08/02/2011 12:58 PM

This might be the ugliest Target I have ever seen (and that says alot) Almost uglier than the vitriol of the politicians they back in Minnesota. All we can hope is that City Farms will plant really TALL gardens to obscure it as best as possible