Two Chicago real estate companies’ plan to demolish the former Torstenson Glass building and build luxury apartments is moving forward.
North Park Ventures and SNS Realty Group first announced their redevelopment project for the Lake View site last summer. The companies purchased the property at 3233 N. Sheffield Ave. in July for $6.3 million, according to CBRE, who represented Torstenson Glass Co. in the sale.
The sale, and subsequent zoning change approved by the City Council in February, clears the way for the companies to turn the site into a new apartment building.
Demolition permits were issued in mid-July, city records show.
North Park Ventures said in a LinkedIn post last month that the company looked forward to starting demolition “in the coming weeks” and completing the project in 2027.
North Park and SNS Realty didn’t responded to requests for interviews.
CBRE’s Land Services Group said there were more than 12 offers on the building. The team noted nearby Wrigleyville has seen substantial residential development in recent years, underscoring why the building drew so many offers.
“Sites this size with a clear path to increased density are rare in Lake View and Wrigleyville and that scarcity, coupled with Chicago’s strong multifamily fundamentals, is what drove the level of competition we saw,” Tom Svoboda, senior vice president for CBRE’s Land Services Group, said in a statement. “The location is also exceptional, being walkable to Wrigley, a stone’s throw to the Belmont CTA stop and surrounded by bars and restaurants up and down Sheffield Avenue.”
Torstenson, a family-owned glass manufacturer, left the building after more than 100 years at the location. The company moved to Morton Grove in February 2025, after announcing the departure in late 2024.
CBRE began marketing the property for sale last year. It marked the first time in more than 60 years the property was for sale, according to the firm.
The project, dubbed Sheffield Apartments, will become a five-story, wood-framed apartment building with 99 units. Plans submitted to the city show the building will have studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments. It will also include 25 parking spaces, a fitness room, club room and roof deck.
Fifteen of the apartments will be designated as affordable under the city’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance.
“This nearly 30,000 [square foot] urban infill site represents one of the most exciting development opportunities we’ve pursued to date,” North Park Ventures said on LinkedIn. “Our vision is to transform the property into a 99-unit luxury multifamily community, bringing thoughtfully designed housing to one of Chicago’s most vibrant, walkable neighborhoods.”
North Park’s portfolio includes properties across Chicago and Evanston, in addition to Florida, Ohio, Minnesota, South Carolina and Utah.