When Royal Imperial Group embarked on the journey to rehabilitate the Sears’ former MD&L Building as the first step in revitalizing the Homan Square neighborhood, it faced multiple challenges. The historic preservation of Sears’ former printing facility and product testing lab was a complicated hurdle, as the building was in a dilapidated state. Royal Imperial Group embraced the opportunity and successfully navigated the complex task of preserving the building’s rich and historic character while executing a comprehensive rehab that has resulted in 181 apartments of workforce housing, with a unit mix of one- to four- bedroom residences.
Lofts on Arthington offers a fitness center, laundry facilities on each floor, a business center, and designated storage units. This project provides a rare and unique housing option. Royal Imperial Group undertook the project in partnership with a nationally renowned nonprofit organization.
As evidence of the successful adaptive reuse of this property, The City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development awarded Lofts on Arthington the 2019 “Chicago Landmark Award for Preservation Excellence”. This award, selected by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, honors the project’s notable improvement to a Chicago Landmark.