DESIGN | BUILD
From Ukrainian Village cottages to two-flats near Chicago Avenue, West Town homes have more than a century of history in their walls. Ascendesign plans and builds finished rooms that respect that — with one team and one point of accountability.
Photo: Thshriver / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
Housing stock: West Town is one of Chicago's oldest community areas and includes Wicker Park, Ukrainian Village, and East Village. Expect a mix of 19th- and early 20th-century workers' cottages, brick two- and three-flats, Italianate and Queen Anne homes, and later apartment and loft buildings. Parts of the area fall within Chicago Landmark Districts (Wicker Park District, Ukrainian Village District), where exterior changes can require Commission on Chicago Landmarks review.
Typical projects: Kitchen and bath updates in vintage flats, two-flat conversions/de-conversions, basement and garden-unit work, and modernizing systems in older buildings. [PLACEHOLDER — confirm the project types we want to lead with]
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.
If the property is inside a Chicago Landmark District such as Wicker Park or Ukrainian Village, exterior work generally needs Commission on Chicago Landmarks review. Interior remodels usually don't. We check your address before design starts.
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 West Town]
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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