A vacant lot at 2963 North Elston Avenue in Avondale is headed for new construction after a private developer secured a permit for a three-story, three-unit residence with a basement. The permit, issued on Tuesday, carries a reported construction cost of $750,000 and calls for a building that will replace the single-family home that once stood on the site.
According to Chicago YIMBY, the developer had already purchased the property before applying for the new permit, which was formally issued September 15, 2026. Plans for the site include a detached two-car garage built at the rear alley and accessed from West Wellington Avenue, along with a rooftop deck, an aluminum-framed rooftop trellis, and steel rear porches connected by a stairway. The existing frame garage on the property will be razed and replaced as part of the project.
John Berta, based in Barrington, is listed as architect of record, while G.M.D. General Construction & Remodeling LLC will serve as general contractor, per the same outlet's report. The permit does not specify whether the new structures will be built using frame or masonry construction, and it likewise does not indicate whether the three units will be offered as rental apartments or sold as condominiums.
A 128-Year-Old House Comes Down
The three-flat rises on ground that, until last year, held a single-family home built in 1898. A demolition permit for that structure was issued August 19, 2025, with Mulroy Demolition & Excavation designated as the contractor and a reported cost of $17,000, the report notes. Siesta Three, Inc. applied for and received that demolition permit.
Chicago YIMBY reports that Siesta Three, Inc. purchased the property for $480,000 in July 2025.
Before the sale, the property had been marketed by @properties as a single-family home. Redfin describes the underlying parcel as a 25-by-125-foot lot zoned RT-4.
Site Already Cleared, Fencing In Place
Google Street View imagery cited in the Chicago YIMBY report shows that demolition of the old house has already been completed, with construction fencing now surrounding the lot. Per the same account, new construction is presumed to begin immediately, though the report does not confirm that groundbreaking has actually taken place.
