Report: Busy Chicago developer eyes another West Loop project

As Chicago-based developer Related Midwest works to put the finishing touches on one West Loop apartment tower at 1035 W. Van Buren, the firm is potentially eyeing another such project in the heart of the Fulton Market District. According to Crain’s, Related is teaming up with Highland Park, Illinois based Tucker Development to bring a new—most likely residential—project to a vacant lot located in the 900 block of W. Randolph Street.

After buying up the majority of the Fulton Market block bounded by Randolph, Sangamon, Peoria, and Lake two years ago, Tucker Development has been in the process of renovating the landmarked low-rise buildings at the west and south side of the site into new commercial space. Known as 900 West—and not to be confused with the ten-story condo project at 900 W. Washington by the same name—this first phase of the project will soon deliver 90,000 square feet of office and retail space.

However, it was the 30,000-square-foot, non-landmarked parcel at the east side of the site that made the location so attractive to Related. It was here that Tucker Development had proposed a 19-story, 260-unit apartment building designed by OKW Architects. Despite submitting preliminary paperwork to the City of Chicago in April of 2016, that proposal never saw the light of a public community meeting or appeared before Chicago’s Plan Commission or City Council.

Based on the expected scope of the project, the newly revealed Tucker-Related venture will need to re-engage the neighborhood groups and the city to move forward. At this early point it’s unclear if the size and design of the high-rise will change, but given Related’s residential expertise—as well as the recent adoption of Chicago’s Neighborhood Opportunity Bonus system that allows developers to “purchase” extra height and density—revisions to the earlier plan seem likely. Representatives from both Related and Tucker declined to comment on the report.

In addition to its soon-to-open Landmark West Loop project, Related Midwest has big plans for the 700 block of W. Randolph. The developer reportedly plans a 145-room hotel tower in collaboration with the Equinox fitness club to replace the demolished cluster of dilapidated low-rise buildings at the site. With that location recently re-paved as a parking lot, the project at least appears to be less imminent.

• Related Midwest plans another Fulton Market project [Crain’s]
• Neighboring Residential Projects Proposed for Fulton Market District [Curbed Chicago]
• West Loop archive [Curbed Chciago]