DESIGN | BUILD
The South Side is home to a large share of Chicago's classic brick bungalows, plus two-flats and workers' cottages. Ascendesign designs and builds finished kitchens, baths and whole-home spaces with vetted crews.
Photo: Thshriver / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
Housing stock: Many South Side neighborhoods are part of Chicago's "Bungalow Belt" — blocks of 1910s–1930s brick bungalows — alongside two-flats, workers' cottages (common near former industrial areas such as South Chicago), and larger historic homes in some neighborhoods. [CONFIRM which South Side neighborhoods to target by name]
Typical projects: Bungalow kitchen and bath remodels, attic and basement conversions, two-flat updates. [PLACEHOLDER — confirm]
Permitting: Work here is permitted by the City of Chicago Department of Buildings. Smaller nonstructural interior alterations (up to 2,000 sq ft, no moved walls or doorways other than closets) can often use the online Express Permit Program; work that needs architectural plans — structural changes, exterior work, reconfigured walls — goes through Standard Plan Review via E-Plan, and all projects require zoning approval. We confirm the right path for your scope before work starts.
Often, but it depends on headroom, stairs, egress and structure — attic conversions typically need plan-based permits. We assess feasibility during your free Project-Readiness Assessment.
We pull the required City of Chicago permits for the work we contract, and we'll tell you up front whether your scope fits the Express Permit Program or needs Standard Plan Review with architect-stamped drawings.
We vet every contractor. Some jobs take 60–80 bids because many don't call back, don't show up, aren't insured, or are booked months out. We screen for insurance before anyone is put on your project.
Request a free Project-Readiness Assessment, call (219) 230-3900, or email hello@ascendesign.com. We respond within 24 hours.
[PLACEHOLDER — featured project / case study for Chicago South Side]
We're developers who hire GCs and subs every day. We've dealt with the ghosting and the disappearing deposits, so you don't have to.
Free Project-Readiness Assessment · (219) 230-3900 · hello@ascendesign.com
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