Construction Set to Begin on 40-Unit Clifton Apartments in Uptown

A new residential project is officially moving forward in Uptown, with construction now cleared to begin at 4725 North Clifton Avenue.

The City of Chicago has issued a foundation and superstructure permit for The Clifton, a five-story, 40-unit apartment development led by CEDARst Companies, with Method Construction Services serving as the general contractor.

The permit, issued on April 24, allows work to proceed through the building’s initial structural phases, marking the first visible step toward bringing the project to life.

A Transit-Oriented Site in the Heart of Uptown

The Clifton will rise on a portion of a surface parking lot at the corner of Clifton and Lawrence, placing it directly next to the recently rebuilt Lawrence Red Line Station.

That location is a major advantage. Residents will be steps from rapid transit, along with multiple bus routes, including the #81 Lawrence and #36 Broadway lines, with additional service along Sheridan Road.

Beyond transit, the project sits in one of Uptown’s most active entertainment pockets. Within a block, you’ll find landmarks like the Aragon Ballroom, Riviera Theatre and Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, giving the site a built-in mix of nightlife, culture and local character.

What the Project Will Include

40 residential units, including 12 studios and 28 one-bedroom apartments
Ground-floor retail space and a residential lobby
Four levels of housing above the base

Notably, the building will not include on-site parking, a decision that aligns with its transit-oriented location and the city’s broader push to reduce reliance on cars in well-connected areas.

Construction Timeline and Financing

The recently issued permit allows work through the second level of the building, with a reported cost of $1 million for this phase. A separate permit covering the remaining floors has been pending since last summer.

To support the project, CEDARst secured a $7.6 million construction loan earlier this year through Associated Bank, signaling that financing is in place to move construction forward.

Why This Project Stands Out

While not the largest development in the area, The Clifton reflects a growing pattern in Chicago, smaller, transit-oriented buildings that make use of underutilized sites.

In this case, a portion of a parking lot is being converted into housing in a location that already has strong infrastructure in place. Instead of adding parking, the project leans into proximity to transit, entertainment and everyday amenities.

Developments like this are becoming more common across neighborhoods like Uptown, where demand for housing remains steady, but large development sites are limited.

A Different Kind of Infill Development

What makes this project interesting isn’t just what’s being built, it’s how it fits into the neighborhood.

This isn’t a full-block redevelopment or a high-rise tower. It’s a targeted infill project, taking advantage of a well-located site and adding density without dramatically changing the surrounding streetscape.

And in a neighborhood like Uptown, where transit, culture, and walkability are already part of the appeal, that kind of approach tends to make sense.

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