New $60 million Green Line station aims to bring more opportunities to West Side

Earlier this week the city broke ground on the Lake Street reconstruction project—which will include a $60 million elevated Damen station for the Green Line.

The additional station at Damen and Lake will likely spur more activity within the area. Although the intersection still feels industrial—although the United Center is just a short walk away and there are offices and even a few breweries nearby. It wouldn’t be surprising if a new station, expected to open in 2020, also brought in more residential and retail development.

“Giving residents more transportation options can open up more employment opportunities, make it easier for them to get to schools and improve their overall quality of life,” 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett said. “I am pleased that the city is moving forward on closing the gap in public transportation that will assist our residents and allow for future growth in our community.”

The project will reconstruct a section of Lake Street from Damen to Ashland avenues, raising the clearance and improve access for trucks along the Kinzie Industrial Corridor. Other improvements include new street lighting, new traffic signals, and landscaping.

Work on the Perkins + Will-designed station will begin after columns are removed and the foundation is set later this year. Construction on the station itself will begin in spring 2019.

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