A closer look at Greektown’s upcoming ‘The Van Buren’ apartment development

Construction crews at the northwest corner of Halsted and Van Buren in the Greektown corridor of Chicago’s West Loop are moving into high gear on a new 12-story development. Known simply as “The Van Buren,” the transit-oriented project is expected to deliver 148 residential units, ground floor retail space fronting Halsted, and 65 interior parking stalls spread across its first and second levels.

Harry Carmichael

The project at 808 W. Van Buren received its first construction permit in April and by August foundation work was in full swing. This month, The Van Buren celebrated a ceremonial groundbreaking and was granted a full building permit estimated at $20 million.

Located across the street from the National Hellenic Museum, the prominent Greektown corner was previously home to Costa’s restaurant that was destroyed in a 2010 fire. The Van Buren is being constructed “as-of-right” by Loukas Development and required no changes to the site’s underlying zoning.

Designed by Chicago’s bKL Architecture, the project will eventually be clad in metal panels and a blue glass window wall system. A fresh batch of renderings provide a detailed look at the building’s exterior and, most notably, its green roof and east-facing pool deck offering downtown skyline views.

bKL Architecture

bKL Architecture

bKL Architecture

• Construction underway on 12-story Greektown apartments [Curbed Chicago]
• 12-story development ready to rise at Halsted and Van Buren [Curbed Chicago]
• New project in the works replace vacant Greektown lot [Curbed Chicago]