Hundreds more apartments could be headed to Chicago's West Loop

A local developer is hoping to build two projects on Van Buren Street

Guest post by Jay Koziarz 

The 21-story proposal for 1050 W. Van Buren.

 Antunovich Associates

A pair of developments proposed for Chicago’s West Loop could add a combined 343 units to the southern edge of the booming neighborhood.

Though the trendy Fulton Market District has been synonymous with the West Loop’s recent building blitz, things are also heating up further south along the Eisenhower Expressway thanks to projects like the 30-story Landmark West Loop tower and an upcoming 12-story development known simply as The Van Buren.

Rendering by Antunovich Associates

The latest proposals for the Van Buren Corridor come from Chicago-based developer Tandem Partners and architecture firm Antunovich Associates, according to Alby Gallun of Crain’s citing documents obtained by the Neighbors of West Loop (NoWL) community group.

Slated to replace the Guy & Sons Auto Rebuilders at 1050 W. Van Buren Street, the larger of the two buildings would top out at 21 stories and deliver 222 dwelling units. A shorter 15-story building at 1125 W. Van Buren would contain 121 apartments. The developer tells NoWL that the designs are “influenced by the Chicago School style, with masonry cladding and large windows.”

The community group has yet to take an official position on the projects but does plan to hold a public meeting to discuss the developments in the near future. Both apartment buildings will require a zoning change from the city to move forward.

In addition to the West Loop duo, Tandem is also teaming with the designers at Antunovich on a 23-story, 226-unit apartment tower proposed for Chicago’s River West neighborhood. The project at Milwaukee Avenue and Carpenter Street was approved by the Plan Commission in December.