Plan Commission Approves McDonald’s New West Loop HQ, Lathrop TIF

As always, this month’s Chicago Plan Commission was a big one. Several big ticket items like the proposed TIF district for the Lathrop Homes redevelopment and the new McDonald’s headquarters for the West Loop met with the city council yesterday. The city’s Department of Planning and Development kept tabs of when proposals were introduced and subsequently approved by the Chicago plan Commission at yesterday’s meeting.

First up was a five-story, 32-unit development that will take over a site that was formerly an outpost of the Midwest Jesuits. The proposal was approved by the Plan Commission.

Up next was the large Wicker Park Connection project which will deliver 200 dwellings to the popular northwest side neighborhood. The plan took advantage of the transit-oriented development ordinance to lower its parking count to 58 spaces. The tweet from the Chicago DPD reveals renderings of the project that are more refined than what had been presented earlier this year.

This striking 25-story tower designed by Chicago’s HPA was approved yesterday. The plan will deliver 71 luxury condos with 71 parking spaces to the River North neighborhood. The first level will also include a large span of retail space—roughly 16,000 square feet.

The long-planned restoration and redevelopment of 168 N. Michigan is finally moving forward. A previous plan to transform the building into a boutique hotel stalled out in 2013 due to permitting issues. However, Oxford Capital Group purchased the building and continued pressing forward on the hotel plan. They want to stack a five-story addition to the top of the old skyscraper and fill it with 210 hotel rooms.

A suburban-style retail development is coming to the Diversey and Pulaski intersection. The development will be composed of three single-story buildings fronted with a large surface parking lot.

The Big Kahuna of this month’s Plan Commission was the proposed McDonald’s global headquarters for the West Loop. The 600,000-square-foot Gensler-designed proposal comes from noted Fulton Market developer Sterling Bay. Dubbed 110N Carpenter, the new development will take the place of Oprah Winfrey’s former Harpo Studios campus.

Previously declared one of Chicago’s most endangered buildings, IIT’s Main Building designed by Patten & Fisher and built between 1891-1893 will live on as a residential building. When redeveloped, the historic building will feature 102 apartments.

Last but certainly not least was the controversial TIF district plan for the Lathrop Homes redevelopment. The TIF district plan will move forward to the Chicago City Council for a final vote.

• McDonald’s HQ, Three Downtown Hotels to Headline July Plan Commission [Curbed Chicago]
• Lathrop Homes Redevelopment Gets Plan Commission Nod [Curbed Chicago]
• Work on Long-Delayed Atlantic Bank Building Hotel Back on Track [Curbed Chicago]
• IIT's Historic Main Building to be Restored as Housing [Curbed Chicago]