Despite Calls for Preservation, TOD May Replace Edgewater's Woodruff Arcade
Edgewater Residents, led by the Edgewater Historical Society, have been petitioning to preserve the Woodruff Arcade located at 6361 N. Broadway Ave. Curbed Chicago reports a new development proposal would completely replace the arcade.
The proposal — dubbed the Loyola Gateway — calls for a six-story, mixed-use transit-oriented development. The first floor of the new development would feature retail space, while the remaining floors would house 136 residential units, according to the report.
The Edgewater Historical Society is aiming to achieve landmark status for the building. The Woodruff Arcade is a shopping arcade. The building’s two stories are arranged in a courtyard underneath a large glass skylight. Preservationists are arguing the building is the last of its type in the city, thus worthy of saving.
The developers who plan to replace the arcade have yet to receive the green light from Alderman Harry Osterman (48th Ward), according to the report. In the meantime, the Edgewater Historical Society continues to add more signatures to its petition.