Construction Set To Begin On New 40-Unit Belmont Development In Lake View

A new residential development is officially moving forward in Lake View as the City of Chicago has issued a construction permit for a mixed-use apartment project at 1215–1225 West Belmont Avenue.

The permit, issued on May 12, clears the way for developer JAB Real Estate to begin construction on a five-story, 40-unit rental building near the intersection of Belmont and Racine. The project was approved with a reported construction cost of approximately $6 million, moving through the city’s approval process in just over four months.

What’s Planned For The Site

Designed by Moth Architects, the building will bring a more modern residential presence to a busy stretch of Belmont Avenue while maintaining a neighborhood-scale footprint.

Plans call for:

40 rental apartments, all with two-bedroom layouts
Eight affordable units integrated into the building
Approximately 2,200 square feet of ground-floor retail space
Parking for 24 vehicles and 40 bicycles
A resident fitness center and lobby
A shared rooftop deck for tenants

Renderings also show inset balconies along the Belmont façade, with every unit expected to include private outdoor space.

The combination of two-bedroom layouts and private balconies suggests the project is geared toward renters looking for more functional, longer-term living arrangements rather than smaller micro-units often seen in denser downtown projects.

Demolition Already Completed

The development site has already undergone significant preparation work.

Three former structures previously occupying the property—including the longtime home of Stage 773—received demolition permits earlier this spring and have since been cleared.

Excavation equipment remains on-site, and foundation work appears imminent, with steel sheeting already delivered in preparation for the next construction phase.

A Transit-Friendly Location

One of the project’s strongest advantages is its location.

Residents will have access to multiple CTA routes within walking distance, including:

The #77 Belmont bus directly outside the site
#9 and X9 Ashland routes nearby
The Belmont Station serving the Red, Brown and Purple Lines roughly three blocks east

A nearby Divvy station at Belmont and Racine also adds bike accessibility in an increasingly transit-oriented part of the North Side.

That level of connectivity continues to make Belmont Avenue a desirable corridor for new residential development, especially as more renters prioritize walkability and access to public transportation.

Why This Project Stands Out

While this isn’t one of the city’s largest developments, it reflects a broader trend happening across Chicago’s North Side, replacing aging low-rise commercial properties with mid-sized mixed-use housing projects that better align with current demand.

What makes this proposal notable is its balance. It introduces additional density and retail activity without dramatically altering the scale of the surrounding streetscape.

Instead of a high-rise tower, the project fits more naturally into the rhythm of Belmont Avenue while still adding meaningful new housing inventory to Lake View.

And in a neighborhood where available development sites are increasingly scarce, projects like this are likely to become more common.

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