A year before the pandemic, Chicago developer R2 announced a partnership with Hogsalt Hospitality, owner of Au Cheval, Bavette’s and other Chicago restaurants. They planned to develop a 3.5-acre shipyard site on Goose Island, open a restaurant and bar, and create dining opportunities off the Chicago River. Back in 2019, Hogsalt founder Brendan Sodikoff told Eater that it was “the most exciting project I’ve had the pleasure of working on.”
Five years later, the plan remains near Kendall College’s old home on Halstead, but it never materialized. On Monday, Cranes This report spread the news to the public – R2 and Hogsalt had broken up. Last year, the development company The northwestern portion of the project site was sold to auto dealer Joe Perillo for $4.8 million.
Sodikoff told Eater that he liked the project, but ran into zoning issues that prevented him from allowing outdoor dining, a key element of the project. During COVID-19,” Sodikoff texted.
Goose Island is one of 15 neighborhoods in Chicago Established as a Planned Manufacturing District (PMD). PMD was created in his ’80s to protect blue-collar manufacturing jobs.Chicago’s The City Council made an exception. We addressed outdoor dining during the pandemic within PMD to help restaurants survive when policies prohibit indoor dining.
Contrary to Mr. Sodikoff’s claims, Chicago city officials pointed to changes in the situation. Zoning created in October 2021 to four PMDs including Goose Island. This will lift restrictions on entertainment and allow outdoor dining.
Sodikoff added that he had not been actively working on the Goose Island project for years, noting a single moment when working with R2 yelled that “the project would stall without progress.”
R2 partnered successfully to build the Salt Shed, a music venue near Division Street and Elston Avenue. Goose Island Beer Co. will open a new brewpub next month in the Salt Shed, where the original Claiborne Brewery was relocated.However, his PMD zoning for this area is It remains intact.
It was hoped that the new development would transform Goose Island into more of an entertainment district, but instead; Cranes According to reports, developers are considering creating industrial, warehouse and office space that could house a photography studio, fitness center and retail stores that would require storage and production space on-site. That’s what it means.
Sodikoff said the project’s demise was not a referendum on the city’s restaurants, saying in a text message that “Chicago dining is very strong.” “This city loves wine and food.”
He added that restaurants face challenges such as rising construction costs, rent increases to accommodate those increases, and policy changes. His current priorities are to focus on reinvesting in his existing restaurants and spending more time with his team, but he said he would like to continue investing in the city if given the opportunity.
“That doesn’t mean there are no new developments, but it certainly raises the risk to an uncomfortable level,” Sodikoff added. “Many great entrepreneurs develop the majority of their new businesses in other states.”
Updated on April 11, 2024. Contains context regarding zoning changes that allow outdoor dining.
