Chicago's hospitality boom shows no signs of slowing as a plan to bring a new 29-story, two-flag hotel tower to the South Loop moves forward. According to neighborhood blog Sloopin, demolition of the old low-rise parking garage currently occupying the southeast corner of Wabash and 11th Street has already begun. It will be replaced by a 298-foot structure that includes a 196-room Homewood Hilton, an extended stay Wabash Suites with 85 guest rooms, and approximately 3,000 square feet of ground floor retail. Both hotels plan to share a new 145-car garage as well as other back-of-house amenities. Relatively unusual these days for a project of its size, the tower slated for 1101 S. Wabash is proceeding as-of-right within the existing confines of the zoning code. This means the project can move quickly as it has bypassed the zoning change that typically accompanies large proposals during the Planned Development (PD) approval process.
Developed by suburban Hinsdale-based S.B. Yen Management Group under the banner of 11th Street Wabash, LLC, the plan for the property was first presented to South Loop neighborhood residents at a November 30th meeting hosted by soon-to-depart Alderman Will Burns (4th). Based on photos that were taken at the meeting and later posted on the development forum at SkyscraperPage.com, it appears that architect Lothan Van Hook DeStefano is going with a bluish green all-glass facade combined with bay window-like protrusions for a decidedly Postmodern — albeit somewhat dated — exterior aesthetic. Once construction begins in earnest, developers predict a 22-month timeline before the 233,587-square-foot hotel will be ready to host guests. This particular stretch of Wabash is preparing for a great deal of future growth with plans for a 24-story rental tower being proposed just across the street at 1136-40 S. Wabash.
·Demo Begins to Make Way for Hilton Hotel at 11th and Wabash [Sloopin]
·Hotel Boom Town archives [Curbed Chicago]
·Previous South Loop coverage [Curbed Chicago]
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