Just when you think things might finally start to cool down when it comes to hotel development in downtown Chicago, two developers have apparently filed zoning applications to build out two new hotels in River North that would add another 399 rooms to the already bustling hotel market.

As reported by DNAinfo, Chicago-based Akara Partners are looking to develop a 17-story, 200-room hotel at Huron and Clark, which is right around 5 blocks west from the famed Magnificent Mile. The vacant lot at 100 W. Huron was actually purchased last year by Akara with plans to develop condos, but the slow condo market delayed the project and apparently a new hotel seems to be the new direction they’re heading.

Just a few blocks south at Lasalle and Hubbard, another…

2115 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

With demand for West Loop housing still at a seemingly all-time high, it appears another major high-rise could be on the way for a site located alongside the Kennedy Expressway. The project,  called One South Halsted, has actually been “in the works” so-to-speak for quite some time, however nothing has quite materialized as of yet.

An introduction to the unique, cylinder-shaped tower was actually first presented all the way back in 2011, and the city actually gave the project approval the following year. However, up until now, talk about the dynamic new development has mostly been silent.

According to reports, though, it appears developers are finally ready to get construction underway, albeit with a slight modification to the height and number of…

2237 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

With so many new developments happening in and around River North, it seemed like only a matter of time before changes in the retail landscape made their way to some of the more dated buildings and parts of this ever-changing downtown Chicago neighborhood.

As reported by Curbed, a rendering for a re-vamped retail space at the corner of Wells and Huron has been released by Mid-America Development Group, which seems to be breaking the trend of maximizing the footprint of a development site by building upward rather than only settling for a single-story development.

Instead, however, commercial space at this particular location will in fact remain just one story high, but have a much more appealing exterior, as opposed to the “modern” 90s look that defines…

2389 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Final details have emerged regarding the latest luxury high-rise that’s slated for downtown Chicago. Being called One Bennett Park, this stunning new Related Midwest project could actually be one of the more impressive developments to break ground in quite some time, which says a lot given downtown’s recent new construction boom. 

Located at 451 E. Grand, the building, which was designed by New York-based Robert A.M. Stern Architects, features a flawless Art Deco exterior that was inspired from the nearby Palmolive building, which is another one of Streeterville ultra-exclusive high-rises. 

When finished, the new tower will house 280 luxury apartments and 69 upscale condominium residences, although pricing has not yet been released by…

2978 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Condos at Sedgwick at Locust

With so much new development in downtown Chicago focused on luxury rentals, the demand for new construction condos is seemingly higher than ever. Sales at projects like 4 E. Elm and No. 9 Walton are reportedly coming in at a very rapid pace, and according to developers, River North’s new Sedgwick at Locust development is now over 75% sold. 

If you’re still unfamiliar with Sedgwick at Locust, this sleek new condo development is currently under construction between Chicago Avenue and the Clybourn Corridor—a location that’s being completely transformed into a hot destination for a wide range of urban dwellers looking to buy or rent. 

Dubbed “SL” for short, Sedgwick at Locust condos feature two-bedroom/two-bathroom layouts that start in the…

3384 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

News relating to Navy Pier over the winter has mostly related to the new-and-improved Ferris wheel, which will be larger and include climate controlled gondolas with speakers, padded seats, and even TV screens.

Not to be outdone, however, the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre has now announced plans for a spectacular $35 million performance space that will not only boost Chicago’s already renowned cultural footprint, but also enable the company to expand its programming range as well.

Being called “The Yard,” the new annex will sit below a huge, whale-shaped canopy and feature 9 movable seating blocks that can be arranged in a variety of different layouts, which can of course be based on each individual performance.

Depending on the production, The Yard can…

1961 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

A new design for the stately new Helmut Jahn tower possibly coming to 1000 S. Michigan was released earlier in the week, which was first reported by Curbed Chicago. The tower, which is now being called 1000M, will stand 73 stories high when finished, but won’t be classified as a “supertall” building after its height was cut to 832 feet from 1001 feet in its initial design.


As noted in the Curbed report, the design changes likely came from guidelines outlined for the Historic Michigan Avenue District by the City of Chicago Landmarks Commission, as well as from input from a variety of different groups, including South Loop residents, the Alderman’s office, and Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development.

Being developed by New York-based JK Equities…

2288 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

We’ve all heard about Chicago’s robust new construction market and how insane projects like Wanda Vista and Riverline are currently in the works, which will undoubtedly change the city’s already unmistakable skyline. But up on Chicago’s north side, new development is also playing an active role in today’s real estate market, but more so in the form of luxury single-family homes.

According to a recent report, Lakeview is leading the way in teardowns in Chicago, which are essentially residential properties that are completely torn down to make way for a brand new homes. In most cases, the homes that are being torn down are usually fully functioning properties that of course could use some updating, but aren’t necessarily un-livable. But given developers are…

3048 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

321 N. Clark Office Tower For Sale

With so many new apartment buildings going up in River North, investors are certainly seeing the potential for office and commercial space within the neighborhood as well. According to a report from Crain’s, the 35-story office tower at 321 N. Clark Street is going up for sale, which has nearly 900,000 square feet of commercial space.

After a record volume in office sales in 2015 that totaled over $6 billion in downtown Chicago, the commercial market in many ways is as hot as many other segments of the Chicago real estate market.

Early estimates have the building selling for between $350 and $375 per square foot, putting the final sales price at over $335 million. As noted by Crain’s, a Houston-based venture purchased 321 N. Clark Street for $247.3…

1833 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Back in early January, news broke about another condo tower coming to River North on Wells Street, and now, nearly two months later, we have a much better idea of what to expect from this dynamic new project. Known simply as 808 Wells, this incredible new Smithfield project will feature 50 luxury homes that range in size from 1,600 to 5,000 square feet.


Above all, the building’s sleek glass design is certainly what stands out most and clearly fits in with the modern River North landscape that continues to evolve with each new project that helps maintain its fashionable reputation.

Amenities at 808 Wells will include 24 hour door service, a large fitness center with a terrace, additional unit and bike storage, wine storage, and on-site garage parking.…

13940 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post