New 24-story hotel pitched for vacant site near Cabrini Green housing complex

An overgrown, long-vacant lot near the Cabrini Green public housing development is being eyed by developers for a new 24-story hotel tower.

Slated for the northwest corner of Chicago and Cleveland avenues, the Near North Side proposal is seeking a zoning amendment to a previously approved plan calling for a 23-story residential tower. That development, which was never realized, had called for a brick-clad design by VOA Associates with 200 units and 186 parking space, Chicago Architecture Blog reported in 2015.

According to a zoning application filed with the city, the latest plan comes from developer Daniel Rezko—son of former Chicago power broker and convicted felon Antoin “Tony” Rezko. The Pappageorge Haymes-design structure would top out at 242 feet and include 219 guest rooms, a 90-car parking garage, 8,000 square feet of retail space, and amenities decks on the 4th and 24th floors.

If approved, the project at 808 N. Cleveland Avenue would bring new lodging options to a corner of downtown that has few hospitality offerings except for the youth-oriented FieldHouse Jones hotel and hostel. The site is steps from The Hudson luxury apartment high-rise and Groupon’s headquarters in the former Montgomery Ward warehouse at 600 W. Chicago Avenue.

The Chicago Plan Commission, Committee on Zoning, and full City Council will need to sign-off on the site’s change from residential to hotel use.

Chicago City Clerk