Checking in on River North construction sites

Chicago’s downtown construction boom has already seen the delivery of thousands of new apartment units and hotel rooms, but thousands more are still on the way. One of the neighborhoods at the center of the unprecedented building boom is the River North area. Construction crews are working on new high-rise developments in the area, meanwhile, one dense 202-unit rental tower has just opened its doors to new tenants. Here’s a look around at a few different sites in the River North area and their current status.

↑ 8 E. Huron

This glassy 26-story luxury rental tower has nearly reached its final height at the northeast corner of State and Huron in River North. Designed by Valerio Dewalt Train Associates and developed by CA Ventures, the project will contain 102 apartments, ground floor retail, and parking for 31 vehicles.

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↑ 225 W. Hubbard

The development now under construction at the southwest corner of Wells and Hubbard is actually a two-building combo from Centrum Partners and architect Hirsch Associates. Constrained by overhead ‘L’ tracks, the site will see a curvy, highly-amenitized nine-story office building joins a 23-floor residential tower containing 193 units and a rooftop pool. The project will also provide off-street parking for 91 vehicles.

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↑ 311 W. Illinois

This 24-story, 245-unit rental tower rising immediately west of Assumption Catholic Church is replacing what was once a surface parking lot at 311 W. Illinois. Developed by Chicago’s John Buck Company and designed by the architects at FitzGerald Associates, the 298-foot tower will feature a roof deck, 3,000 square feet of retail space, and 109 parking spaces. The project also will see a third level added to the church’s two-story priory building along Orleans.

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↑ Moxy Hotel

Being built "as of right" by developer Albert Friedman and partner White Lodging Services, the Chicago branch of the Marriott’s boutique Moxy brand of hotels is rising at the corner of Grand and LaSalle. Designed by Chicago's DLR Group, the eight-story Chicago Moxy will meet the street with a glassy two-story lobby/ restaurant space. So far, the hotel’s cinder block elevator core is standing over the site.

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↑ 676 N. LaSalle

Cedar Street Companies, one of the city's busiest developers, is looking to add a glassy new addition to a River North office building that it acquired last in 2015. The plan is to convert the facility into a new development featuring 149 apartments under the company's FLATS Chicago brand. The old office building is currently gutted and is being thoroughly renovated for its new life as rentals.

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↑ 167 W. Erie

The new Gallery on Wells tower coming up at the former Gino's East location is well underway. Designed by Loewenberg Architects for Magellan Development, the brick and glass clad tower has taken its final form. The 39-story tower will deliver 444 new apartments when it is completed and opened.

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↑ 640 N. Wells

This 280-foot rental tower by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture replaces River North's Ed Debevic's restaurant at 640 North Wells. The development will bring 251 new apartments to the area when it opens later this year. The tower is now topped off and wrapped in glass, and workers are putting the finishing touches on the exterior.

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• Checking in on construction sites around the Loop [Curbed Chicago]
• A look at the South Loop construction boom [Curbed Chicago]