Bucktown Neighbors Square Off Over Bold 7-Story Development Pitched for Milwaukee Avenue — And the Debate Is Heating Up

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Bucktown · June 10, 2026

A proposal to transform a strip mall parking lot into a seven-story mixed-use apartment building at 1704 N. Milwaukee Ave. is stirring up one of Bucktown's liveliest community debates in recent memory — and it's far from over. The project stalled at a City Council zoning committee hearing in early May, but Ald. Scott Waguespack has signaled it will "likely" come up for a vote this month, meaning neighbors on both sides of the aisle are mobilizing fast.

Proponents — including three local advocacy groups and Bucktown resident Cyrus Dowlatshahi — are calling the proposal "the epitome of transit-oriented development," arguing that a dense, walkable building near the Blue Line could actually reduce car traffic in the neighborhood. Josh Chodor of Strong Towns Chicago echoed that logic at City Hall, calling the Milwaukee Avenue site an optimal location for mixed-use density in an increasingly expensive part of the city. But opposition is just as organized: a petition led by nearby condo association president Matthew Hencke has collected around 700 signatures, with neighbors raising concerns about traffic, noise from the Blue Line elevated tracks, and the planned garage entrance on Wabansia Avenue.

This is exactly the kind of civic conversation that shapes a neighborhood for decades — and your voice matters. Follow Ald. Waguespack's office for updates on when the zoning vote is scheduled, and make sure you're heard before it happens. And while you're out this week, check out the World Cup Watch Party at Five Iron Golf Bucktown this Friday, June 12 — a fun, low-key way to connect with neighbors before the big vote.

Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/05/07/proposed-7-story-apartment-building-in-bucktown-stalls/
2. https://allevents.in/chicago/bucktown