The former K House of Flowers shop at the northeast corner of Milwaukee and Foster avenues could soon be demolished to clear the way for a four-flat.
“My goal is to break ground this summer,” project developer Tim Pomaville of Ambrosia Homes said. He added that the demolition of the flower shop should go quickly because it is basically a greenhouse made of glass and metal poles.
The parcel was rezoned in 2018 to accommodate the project. Given that the site sits at the entrance of the Gladstone Park commercial district, the Chamber fought for a commercial presence on the ground floor but the city felt otherwise.
Plans call for the construction of a three-story building, which would include an apartment in the basement. Each of the four apartments would measure about 1,200 square feet and include two bedrooms, two bathrooms and an outdoor deck, with a monthly rent of about $2,100.
Initial plans called for eight parking spaces behind the building, but one space was eliminated due to rear setback requirements and the parcel’s unusual shape, which is significantly wider in the rear of the property compared to its frontage along Milwaukee. A north-south alley separates the site from the Church of the Chicagoans, 5518 W. Gettysburg St.
The exterior design of the building is being “tweaked” to give it a more modern look than what was presented in the original proposal, Pomaville said. Plans had called for it to remember the façade of the Whistlestop Inn, a frame-style city landmark building at 4200 W. Irving Park Road.
The flower shop closed about 5 years ago after its longtime operator died.
Meanwhile, Ambrosia has acquired a two-story building at 5251 N. Milwaukee Ave., which has a former medical office on the ground floor and an apartment above. The apartment is being renovated, and a tenant for the office is being sought.
