UPDATE: Coyote Building Remains in Development Limbo

Despite previous plans and proposals by several developers to convert an iconic Wicker Park skyscraper into a hotel, there is still no active development in the works for Northwest Tower at the Six Corners.

The tower, located at 1600 N. Milwaukee Ave., is more colloquially known as The Coyote Building. The art deco skyscraper is Wicker Park's tallest building. It was considered for a hotel conversion in 2011 by a joint venture involving the same developer that reopened Lincoln Park's Park View Hotel as Hotel Lincoln last year. However, those plans appear to have fallen through, according to 1st Ward Ald. Proco Joe Moreno's office.

"That never really went anywhere, to be honest with you," said Raymond Valadez, Moreno's chief of staff.

A November 2012 Crain's article reported that local investor Don Wilson and developer Newcastle Ltd. purchased the building from its previous owner, developer Krzysztof Karbowski, for $13.2 million, once again with plans to convert the building into a boutique hotel.

Paul Sajovec, chief of staff to 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack, also said that he hadn't heard anything about new development for the building, although a hotel conversion has historically been the most popular option. However, he said the new owners would most likely have to analyze the benefits of such a conversion before moving forward with more concrete development plans.

"I would imagine that, based on our impressions of who's involved in it, their next steps are probably going to be to do a real feasibility study to find out what kind of income potential and rate of return they could generate with a hotel conversion," Sajovec said. "And that that would then dictate whether or not that's really a viable option."

He said other possible options for the development could include condos or apartments, but he said those were less likely.

"I don't know that the layout and the floor plans lend themselves all that well, or nearly as well, to permanent dwelling units as it would, potentially, to a hotel," he said.

In 2008, the city's Zoning Board of Appeals approved a plan by Karbowski to convert it into a 90-room hotel, according to a Crain's report.

That plan fell apart in 2010 when Karbowski reportedly defaulted on a loan and faced a $4.5 million foreclosure suit.

This story was updated for accuracy on Jan. 9.

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