Block-sized West Loop apartment plan returns with tweaked design

After being shown privately to residents of nearby condominium buildings, a revised plan to redevelop the block-sized site formerly occupied by the H2O Plus company at 845 W. Madison was presented to West Loop neighbors last night. The development team comprising of The John Buck Company, Lendlease, and GREC Architects revealed a plan for the former shampoo manufacturer calling for 586 luxury rental residences (including 14 townhomes), 293 parking spaces, an elevated amenity deck, and roughly 10,000 feet of retail space.

The latest proposal has trimmed 41 dwelling units from a previous iteration that publicly broke cover in July of last year. In addition to cutting density, a number of other changes suggested by both community groups and city planners have been adopted. As a result, the project has substantially reconfigured its massing to lessen its visual impact at street level, especially when viewed from Mary Bartelme Park to the immediate southwest.

Google Street View

To further minimize impact to nearby condo owners, the segment fronting Green Street has been increased given its proximity to a Mariano's supermarket parking garage and relative distance from neighboring residential units. The design also now features new setbacks to increase both “light and air” to its neighbors and the park.

The city block-sized site is currently zoned DX-5 downtown mixed-use. The current plan will be seeking a modest bump to a 6.0 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and will require a zoning change in the form of Planned Development approval to move forward as proposed. The project will reportedly cost $100 million.

Image courtesy of GREC

Image courtesy of GREC

Image courtesy of GREC

• Updated H2O+ redevelopment plan to be shown to nearby West Loop condo owners [Curbed Chicago]
• Developer pursuing downsized plan for the West Loop’s former H2O Plus site [Curbed Chicago]
• Dense 627-Unit Proposal for West Loop Unveiled to Community [Curbed Chicago]