Chicago Leaders Lift Fulton Market New Residential Development Ban

A decision from the Chicago Committee on Zoning a few months ago could have a far reaching impact on development in Fulton Market. The committee approved an ordinance last spring which lifted a ban on residential development north of Lake Street.

That decision was quickly reinforced by a similar vote from the full City Council. In lifting the previous construction ban, it gives approval for new residential development in the Kinzie Corridor Overlay District.

That’s an area bound by Carroll Avenue, Ogden Avenue, Hubbard, Wayman and Halsted. Residential construction had previously been banned in the area, as it was mostly restricted to hotel and office buildings.

Over about the past ten years or so the area has changed over from an industrial, meatpacking center to an area rich with high-rise office buildings, high-end restaurants and shops. The idea is to further help remake the area into a mixed-use neighborhood.

Some neighborhood groups say the action of lifting the residential ban will likely also help support some of the existing neighborhood businesses. This is especially true as businesses continue to recover from COVID-19 related economic losses.

Under guidelines from the Fulton Market Innovation District, developers have to set aside about 30-percent of new housing units as affordable housing.