Developers unveil two Fulton Market hotel projects with more than 700 rooms

Fulton Market’s busy hospitality scene is showing no signs of slowing down after two teams of developers presented a pair of hotel projects this week. The proposals include a combined 735 guest rooms, new restaurants space, and—to the dismay of some West Loop residents—zero on-site parking spaces.

The plans were discussed at back-to-back community meetings hosted by 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. and the West Loop Community Organization, and they will both need city approval to move forward.

Here’s a look a what developers are planning for the increasingly crowded downtown neighborhood.

Standard Hotel at 1234 W. Randolph Street

On Tuesday, co-developers DDG and Marc Realty presented a revised plan to build a Standard Hotel at the New Dairy Co. site located at 1234 W. Randolph, between City Winery and Alhambra Palace. The team initially filed a zoning application for a 23-story building with 289 rooms in March, but has since scaled its proposal down to 16 stories and 259 keys.

The L-shaped design comes from NORR Architects and New York-based James Carpenter Design Associates and features a rooftop pool and bar. The proposed Standard Hotel would also include a 2,500-square-foot restaurant space and a small public plaza along Randolph Street.

The plan assumes most guests and employees will use public transit or ride-hailing services so it forgoes an on-site garage in favor of valet parking and a dedicated drop-off zone. Alderman Burnett and Noah Szafraniec from the city’s Department of Planning and Development said the developers need to come up with a solution to address traffic concerns, according to Chicago Block Club. The team hopes to begin construction in late spring.

Two unnamed hotels at 800 W. Lake Street

GREC Architects

One night later, North Park Ventures and MF Development shared their vision for 20-story hospitality project slated for the northwest corner of Lake and Halsted streets. Known by its address of 800 W. Lake, the development would replace two small parking lots and three low-rise buildings currently home to Northwest Cutlery, Publican Quality Bread, and Paddy O’Fegan’s Irish Pub.

The brick and metal-clad design from Chicago-based GREC Architects splits the base of the buildings into two separate lobby, restaurant, and event spaces. A vehicular drive and drop-off zone will cut under the building. Drivers will enter on Lake and exit on Halsted.

The plan includes a rooftop restaurant and 476 guest rooms spread across two yet-to-be-announced hotel brands. The development team says it hopes to close on the property by the end of the year and start construction in July. If all goes to plan, 800 W. Lake hopes to welcome guests in April of 2021.

In the meantime, several more hospitality projects look to break ground: a 20-story project at nearby 920 W. Lake, a 17-story proposal for 210 N. Aberdeen, the 12-story Pendry Hotel at 1043 W. Fulton Market, and the mixed-use Equinox Hotel slated for 725 W. Randolph. The long-delayed Nobu project is expected to open later this year, joining existing Fulton Market hotels like the Hoxton, Ace, and Soho House.