West Loop residents say five-story proposal looks ‘prison-like’

The development firm Vequity, LLC, which is currently constructing a new transit-oriented development at Milwaukee and Western avenues along the busy Milwaukee Avenue corridor, has recently revealed a plan to erect a new development on what is currently a vacant lot in the booming Fulton Market area. The proposal for 1001 W. Fulton calls for a new five-level retail and office building clad in dark masonry. The ground level would feature retail space while Vequity would utilize the second and third floors as its new headquarters.

The proposal was recently reviewed by the community group Neighbors of West Loop, which ultimately expressed dissatisfaction with the plan. According to a blog post from the group, some members indicated concerns over the development’s dimensions which would span the entire lot line. Others panned the proposal’s dark masonry aesthetic, claiming that is looked “underwhelming” and “prison-like.” The summary from the Neighbors of West Loop group suggests that the organization has asked the developer and architect to revise the proposal.

Google Street View

• 1001 W. Fulton (Vequity, LLC) [Neighbors of West Loop]
• West Loop development boom, mapped [Curbed Chicago]