Real Estate

River North Skyscraper Could Become One of Chicago's Tallest

A developer aims to build a pair of towers on State Street across from the Holy Name Cathedral.

CHICAGO, IL -- A Chicago company hopes to build one of the city's tallest buildings in the Holy Name Cathedral's parking lot on State Street. JDL Development has plans for two towers--one that would be 76 stories, the other 45 stories--side by side on the lot. The company filed its zoning application with the city Wednesday.

Titled One Chicago Square, the development would include a nine-story shopping center with 200,000 square feet of retail space. The company's plans also include about 795 apartments, 75 condos, 45,000 square feet of office space, and 659 parking spots. The condos would start at $2 million.(For more local news, subscribe to free email news alerts and a daily newsletter for your hometown Patch.)

In an interview with Crain's, JDL Development President Jim Letchinger said the more than $700 million proposal is his most ambitious project to date, which makes it "exciting" but also "terrifying"--which says a lot as Crain's considers Letchinger one of the city's "most prolific residential developers."

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If the plans get off the ground, it would be one of the largest developments ever undertaken in Chicago's downtown core. The tallest building planned would be 1,011--almost as tall as the John Hancock Center. The nine-floor building would include a fitness center, a spa, a grocery store, restaurants, and other retail space.

The Archdiocese of Chicago reportedly sold the Holy Name Cathedral's parking lot to the company in April.

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In order to get the proposal passed, the company is working hard to address traffic concerns, parking issues, and many other logistical details. The developer plans to hold its first public presentation at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 24 at Kasbeer Hall on Pearson Street.

Image via Google Maps


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