High-rise hotel project near Chicago’s new McDonald’s HQ seeks zoning change

As the future West Loop home of McDonald’s corporate headquarters continues its 9-story climb skyward at 110 N. Carpenter, developer Sterling Bay is preparing to move forward with an even taller hotel tower just one block west. According to paperwork recently filed with the City of Chicago, the proposed project would replace a surface lot at 113 N. May Street with a 19-story brick and metal clad building with ground floor retail space, hotel rooms above, and off-street parking for 41 vehicles.

The development was mentioned last fall by Sterling Bay Managing Director Andy Gloor during the Crain's Real Estate Forum as an extension of the McDonald’s relocation deal. At the time, Hyatt was named as the “most likely” operator of the building’s roughly 200 extended-stay guest rooms, which would primarily cater to business travelers.

Designed by Chicago-based Eckenhoff Saunders Architects, the 199-foot structure will require a zoning bump from DX-3 to DX-5 to be constructed as proposed. By including a pair of nearby existing low-rise office buildings within the project boundaries, the proposed tower manages to climb to a considerable height given its relatively modest requested Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of just 5.0.

With Sterling Bay’s Ace Hotel on track to officially open this fall, the 113 N. May project would be the developer’s second hotel development in Chicago’s red-hot West Loop. As the neighborhood continues its transformation into a destination for both leisure and business travelers, several other upcoming hotels are also waiting in the wings including boutique hospitality projects under the Nobu, Hoxton, and Equinox banners.

• Proposed tower at Union Station would be one of city's tallest [Crain’s]
• Ace Hotel in Fulton Market to open in the autumn [Curbed Chicago]
• West Loop archives [Curbed Chicago]