Ann Sather building to become apartments

• It will sport 210 residential units, mostly studios and one-bedrooms.
• There will be a 36-car garage and communal lounge space.
• 42 apartments will be set aside for affordable housing.

Context: The development will replace two buildings, both built in 1904. They currently house the Ann Sather restaurant and Belmont Army Vintage.

• Sather's and the vintage store are remnants of what the Lakeview neighborhood at Belmont and Clark used to be.
• It served as a late-night, alternative hangout for young punk rock and independent artists.

Yes, but: Those days are gone. It's been years since the iconic Dunkin' Donuts (Punkin' Donuts) was demolished, and The Alley and other head shops have closed up along the funky strip.

The intrigue: To be able to make this development work, the property must be rezoned.

The bottom line: Change is inevitable, and it looks to be heading straight for this historic corridor.