Zoning Class Makes New Bike Facility Possible

CHICAGO-Zoning written last year to allow commercial uses in heavy industrial districts cleared the way for SRAM Corp. to move its headquarters to 1333 N. Kingsbury St. C5 zoning allows for commercial, office, high tech, entertainment, wholesale, distribution and manufacturing uses in the Halsted Triangle area, bounded by North Avenue, Halsted Street and the Chicago River.

The C5 zoning was a compromise between manufacturing districts that restrict commercial uses and commercial zoning that allows for the possibility of residences.

SRAM Corp. invented shifting, braking and drive-chain bicycle components. It had tight quarters in the River North neighborhood before finding suitable space in the 103,900-sf, four-story building for its corporate offices as well as research and development facilities. However, the zoning made the deal happen.

“The city’s new zoning classification allowed us to expand our world headquarters in an area where a mix of businesses can operate without interfering with future encroaching residential development,” says SRAM president Stan Day.