Chicago is expecting some major changes in the next few years as 13 mega developments hit the market. Each of these projects taken on its own represents a bet that the city will continue to convince major corporations to establish their headquarters by Lake Michigan. Taken as a whole, they show that the world has taken notice—the Windy City may look very different by the end of this decade.
Lakeshore East: Vista, Cirus, Cascade, Parcel I, Parcel O: The last five towers of the massive Lakeshore East community include a 1,191-foot hotel and residential tower, a condo building, and additional residential and hotel buildings. When they are complete, Lakeshore East will be among the most modern construction projects of any American city.
Old Post Office: A massive, historical structure, the Old Post Office’s 2.8 million square feet will no longer sit vacant. The largest adaptive reuse project in the country will include offices, a fitness center, and a Riverwalk.
Union Station: This historic train station will host a 700-foot office tower designed by Goettsch, set to open in 2022. It looks as though Union Station itself will be redeveloped in the coming years. One Central: While it’s yet to receive approval, the $20B One Central is set to transform the Near South Side. The project would cap an active rail yard, and include skyscrapers, parks, and a transit hub. Bronzeville Lakefront: This multiphase development would revitalize the vacant Michael Reese Hospital and bring affordable and market-rate housing to the Bronzeville Lakefront. Also included: a life sciences campus, data center, community spaces, and new 31st-street Metra Station.
Obama Presidential Center: It’s only fitting that the Obama Foundation is choosing to build its new home in Chicago. The project spans an auditorium, an athletic complex, and a branch of the Chicago Public Library.
Southbridge: The 13-acre Southbridge development will replace the demolished Harold L. Ickes public housing complex. With 65,000 square feet of retail, public plazas, and 972 mixed-income residences, it’s quite the replacement.
South Works: The former U.S. Steel South Works plant is bigger than downtown Chicago, and it has been begging for redevelopment for decades. While rapper Common wants to develop an entertainment complex on the site, Chicago’s planning commissioner said the site is too big for any single developer.
Wolf Point South, East, and West: Three shimmering skyscrapers will soon stand on the site of a former parking lot. It’s a good thing, too—the location, a peninsula that sits at the confluence of the main, south, and north branches of the Chicago River, couldn’t be more prestigious.
Lincoln Yards: This $6B proposal aims to transform 55 acres of industrial riverfront into a mixed-use campus that includes 14 million square feet of high rises. In addition, Lincoln Yards should include 21 acres of parkland.
Riverline and Southbank: These two projects—with a total value of $2 billion—are set on 14 acres of vacant land along the Chicago River. The towers and townhouses will house about 3,700 residences. The 78: This megaproject will create a new neighborhood on the Chicago River’s north branch. With 13 million square feet of building space, there’ll be plenty of room for a University of Illinois-affiliated innovation center.
The River District: This riverfront project will sit between Lincoln Yards and The 78, and it’s set to include 8.5 million square feet. In addition to 4,100 residential units, The River District is expected to support as many as 19,000 jobs.
