2016 Bruce Abrams Awards Winner: 1325 W. Wilson Avenue, Chicago

A building in disrepair, with vacant retail spaces and a transient environment, has been transformed into a sleek, well-run apartment complex that has helped re-awaken a sense of community in its Uptown neighborhood. Cedar Street Companies earned the Bruce Abrams award – the top honor – at the 2016 Good Neighbor Awards, for transforming the neglected building with a transient environment into an exciting, vibrant living and working space for the diverse community members who thrive there. The re-awakened sense of community is a huge part of what makes Cedar Street so successful – in focusing on adaptive reuse of obsolete or under-performing properties in targeted urban infill areas, like Uptown, they are able to fulfill their mission to bring big style to smart spaces for tenants who are hungry for value and lifestyle. Their renovations are high quality and amenity-rich, with branded environments for each project. 1325 W. Wilson is no exception. Following the three-year gut renovation, each unit now comes with in-unit laundry, brand new appliances, granite countertops, custom soft-close cabinetry, subway tile backsplash, a glass-enclosed shower and free WiFi. The building has a bicycle sharing program for residents to take advantage of, as well as a 24-hour fitness center and a rooftop deck with grilling stations and unobstructed views of the city and Lake Michigan. The ground-floor retail spaces are anchored by a Heritage Outpost coffee shop, bakery and bicycle repair shop. In many ways, 1325 W. Wilson continues the innovative legacy of Bruce Abrams with its successful transformation into a thriving neighborhood hub in a historic building. It is a great example of Mixed Use Renovation that enhances and improves the greater neighborhood and inspires an abundance of community pride.