Chicago Development News

It doesn’t seem like all that long ago that living right next door to an “L” station was the last place you’d want to call home. While the convenience of being near public transportation is always a benefit, many assumed the noise would simply be too much of a nuisance to justify the investment. 

Today, things are slightly different, and the emergence of brand new transit-oriented developments (TODs) are re-shaping how we view living spaces in the city. 

Given the state of Chicago’s red hot rental market, many TODs being built in Chicago fall into the category of luxury apartment residences, but even condo buyers are starting to see a greater upside to living just a short distance away from various “L” stops. 

Recognizing a shift in the market,

In development news that doesn’t involve the West Loop or River North, reports have surfaced about a possible zoning approval for the first phase of a new 500-unit apartment building expansion in downtown Chicago’s Medical District, which would involve the construction of a new 19-story, 254-unit tower that would inevitably replace two existing parking garages. 

Slated fore the northeast corner of Ashland and Taylor, if approved, the new bKL Architecture-designed tower would also include about 28,000 square feet of retail space and parking for 245 cars. 

The second phase of the potential development would also involve a second tower to eventually be built, as well as the complete overhaul of an existing apartment building that already has 410 units.

Construction has officially begun on the massive new Lincoln Common mixed-use development, which will take over the 6-acre site that was once the home of Lincoln Park’s Children’s Memorial Hospital. 

Officially located at the corner of Fullerton, Lincoln, and Halsted, Lincoln Commons will bring 1.1 million square feet of new office, retail, and residential space to the neighborhood, which will apparently include 105,000 square feet of retail space and 540 apartment and condo residences. 

As noted by Curbed, only a construction permit for the 7-story assisted living structure has been issued for The Lincoln Common project, although you can still get a better glimpse at that the full project will entail thanks to a number of new renderings that were

The new mixed-use project planned for 1435-1443 N. Wells is officially a “go” according to a recent report from Curbed. Officially designated a transit-oriented development (TOD), the new Old Town development will offer a mix of 50 apartment residences, ground level retail space, and parking for just 15 off-street spaces.

The building’s attractive design, which rises 6 stories and features a setback-layout for its upper floors to limit its visual impact from below, is from NORR, while the project itself is being developed by LG Development. 

Despite its approval, the project does come with a little controversy, as a group of existing older buildings will have to be demolished to make way for the new structure. But as other Old Town projects continue

Another new apartment tower is being planned for the Loop, which is hardly a surprising headline anymore as more and more residential construction continues to transform this particular part of the city. Once thought of as Chicago’s primary business and financial district, the Loop has all of a sudden become one of the hottest places to call home now thanks to newly built high-rises such as OneEleven, Mila, 73 E. Lake, and Marquee at Block 37.  

As first reported in the Tribune, Chicago-based Sterling Bay and Magellan Development are looking to demolish a brick four-story building at 300 N. Michigan Avenue to make way for the new rental tower, although details beyond that are still unclear.  

As of now, Sterling Bay currently owns the possible

Filed under “something you don’t see everyday,” a new high-rise project  in River North has recently been revealed that will combine office space and a new firehouse, which on the surface seems like an odd mixture. But upon further review, the bold idea actually make a lot of sense, both for the city and for the developer behind the project. 

According to reports, developer Albert Friedman has already reached a deal with city officials regarding the new development, which would include about 614,000 square feet overall, including the new firehouse that would replace the existing Engine Co. 42 station located at 55 W. Illinois. 

As alluded to above and as first detailed by Crain’s, the project seems to be a win-win for both the city and Friedman, who

As commercial development continues to transform Chicago’s West Loop and Fulton Market neighborhoods, developers are also planning more apartments to serve what will inevitably be a substantial influx of people wanting to live nearby. 

According to a recent report from Crain’s Chicago Business, Naperville-based Marquette Cos. is planning a 263-unit apartment building for a site over on the southwest corner of Lake and Ada streets, which happens to also lie just a block north of Chicago’s famed Restaurant Row. 

Should the project move forward, the building will reportedly be designed by Brininstool & Lynch and stand 10 stories high once finished. As noted in the Crain’s piece, developers love the location of Lake and Ada, which feels slightly less

The glassy new tower proposed for 1326 S. Michigan has officially received the “okay” from the city to begin construction, according to a new report out from Curbed Chicago that also outlines only the foundation permits have been issued to this point. 

One of several major developments that will no doubt change the landscape of Chicago’s South Loop in the coming years, 1326 S. Michigan will rise 47 stories once finished and add 500 more apartments to Chicago’s rapidly expanding inventory of downtown rentals. 

Dubbed “SoMi”—at least for now—1326 S. Michigan was designed by Chicago-based Solomon Cordwell Buenz and will also include brand new retail space along Michigan Avenue, as well as parking for 190 vehicles. 

 Local developer Murphy

Construction has officially wrapped up and apartments for rent at AURÉLIEN are now leasing! As one of the hottest new apartment towers to hit the Gold Coast rental market, Aurélien provides a living experience unlike most buildings found throughout the Downtown landscape. 

Above all, the building's location is second-to-none, providing residents with easy access to many of Chicago’s best shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations, not to mention plenty of public transit stops/stations and countless other nearby amenities as well. 

As a newly built tower, living spaces are modern, sleek, and stylish, and the building’s full compliment of luxury lifestyle amenities also elevate apartments at Aurélien to a level that few buildings in the city

In case you haven’t noticed, Chicago’s Uptown is transforming into one of the city’s most distinguished up-and-coming neighborhoods. Along with a number of large scale residential projects either already underway or currently being discussed, plans for another apartment project were just recently revealed that will only add to the neighborhood’s future appeal. 

According to reports, a vacant lot and old auto repair shop at 4906-4918 N. Clark Street near Andersonville could be developed into a chic new apartment building that could hold as many as 60 rentals and from the looks of it even plenty of ground level retail space as well.  

As of now, nothing has been made official and developers still need to present the project to Uptown’s Zoning Advisory