Construction continues to move upward on the Tiny Giants mixed-use development located next to Horner Park in Chicago’s Irving Park Community Area, with crews now working on the second level of the four-story building at 4340 North California Avenue.
A city-issued building permit approved in February 2025 cleared the way for general contractor LG Group Construction to begin work, and progress has now reached roughly the halfway point of the structure. Designed by SEEK Design + Architecture, the project combines early childhood education facilities with residential housing in a single development.
The ground floor will house a new Tiny Giants Early Learning Center, expanding the organization’s footprint in the neighborhood. The second level is planned to include office space along with school and residential support services, creating a centralized hub for both educational programming and building operations. Exterior construction activity is currently focused on completing this second floor.
At street level, the project includes a 23-space surface parking lot. Access to the parking area will be provided via a driveway connecting California Avenue to the alley behind the site, improving circulation while keeping parking largely off the main roadway.
The upper two floors define the project’s mixed-use nature. The third and fourth levels will contain a total of 24 residential units, offering a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom layouts. Unlike many developments near educational institutions, the apartments are not intended for student housing, as the school serves early childhood learners.
The development replaces three former buildings along California Avenue that were demolished in 2024, including the former Ruby’s Cleaners property at the corner of Montrose Avenue. Demolition work wrapped up in January 2025, clearing the site for new construction.
Situated directly across from Horner Park, the project benefits from immediate access to green space and recreational amenities. The location is also well served by public transportation, with CTA Route 78 bus stops at Montrose and California, Route 80 service along Irving Park Road, and north-south connections via Route 49 and X49 buses on Western Avenue. The Francisco Brown Line station is located just under half a mile to the northwest.
As construction continues toward the upper residential floors, the Tiny Giants Horner Park development reflects a broader trend toward mixed-use projects that integrate community services with new housing, particularly in transit-accessible neighborhoods.
Originally reported by Daniel Schell in Chicago Yimby.
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