CHICAGO | The 78 Site

[BruceP]

Originally Posted by dreamy-developer

This was exactly my thoughts too ^^

They may mark and say it's "temporary" but temporary for how long? Seeing Related own all of this plot of land, it could be anywhere from 2-5 years time until it gets developed

2-5 years would be breakneck speed when it comes to a massive real estate development. Big things take time.

[dreamy-developer]

Originally Posted by BruceP

2-5 years would be breakneck speed when it comes to a massive real estate development. Big things take time.

Yeah, my example was exaggerated. But to make my point that we'll have this "temporary" parking lot for years on end.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by VKChaz

To that end, in terms of the overall development, wouldn't it be preferable to have the stadium pushed south?

Maybe, but the stadium also relies on accessibility to CTA and to the expressway. Pushing it south would likely shift more (car) traffic to 18th St and put heavier pedestrian traffic on 15th St thru Dearborn Park.

Without a new CTA station, the south end of the 78/former DPI site may indeed be a good spot for a Chinatown/South Loop neighborhood high school, probably a similar footprint to Walter Payton (~4 acres).

[lakeshoredrive]

Could an orange line station be built on the southern end of the lot? By wentworh and 18th street? Not sure how feasible it is.

[SIGSEGV]

Originally Posted by lakeshoredrive

Could an orange line station be built on the southern end of the lot? By wentworh and 18th street? Not sure how feasible it is.

The Orange Line should really have a stop around Chinatown anyway...

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by lakeshoredrive

Could an orange line station be built on the southern end of the lot? By wentworh and 18th street? Not sure how feasible it is.

CTA generally requires ~500' of straight and level track for infill stations. You have such a segment along 18th by the police station, but a CTA station there would be a steel behemoth over the street with major impacts to the townhouses next door. Really the Orange Line skirts a bit too far around The 78 for any infill station to really be convenient.

There's a reason planners settled on a Red Line infill stop at 15th to serve The 78, it's really the best location (even though the track is neither straight nor level at that location in the tunnel).

[lakeshoredrive]

The city council approved the plan yesterday so it looks like Chicago Fire will start construction soon.

[BVictor1]

Cerimonial groundbreaking perhaps...

09.26.25

[BVictor1]

10.03.25
Cutting grass and clearing brush.

[KWillChicago]

Referring to the collapsed concrete in the above picture, is that an old wall or a sidewalk/walkway? That would have been a sweet view for a bike ride back in the day.

[Chicago Shawn]

Originally Posted by KWillChicago

Referring to the collapsed concrete in the above picture, is that an old wall or a sidewalk/walkway? That would have been a sweet view for a bike ride back in the day.

That was the top of the old concrete riverbank, dating back to when the channel was straightened here in 1930. Just north of this spot, the wall still is in place and has railroad ties embedded into the top of it.

[ardecila]

Yeah, I would imagine a new seawall/sheet piling here is a top priority for Related now that they finally have a real anchor tenant again.

[BVictor1]

10.09.25
(Tie)ing the past with the future.....

[mh777]

Very excited about this project as well as Bally's. FINALLY getting rid of two major plots of land downtown. Both of these will really help fill in their respective areas.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by mh777

Very excited about this project as well as Bally's. FINALLY getting rid of two major plots of land downtown. Both of these will really help fill in their respective areas.

To me, it's more about these strategic locations along the river. I feel like Bally's and this project are going to create that push to build out a Riverwalk of some kind from where it's at now in downtown. Obviously that will take time, but if done in segments over time, my hope is you can start to create a world class walk way that goes from downtown to the South to this stadium, and to the North to Bally's and beyond eventually.

I'm assuming funding is ready to go for this? I haven't really followed the money trail on this project.

[mh777]

Originally Posted by twister244

To me, it's more about these strategic locations along the river. I feel like Bally's and this project are going to create that push to build out a Riverwalk of some kind from where it's at now in downtown. Obviously that will take time, but if done in segments over time, my hope is you can start to create a world class walk way that goes from downtown to the South to this stadium, and to the North to Bally's and beyond eventually.

I'm assuming funding is ready to go for this? I haven't really followed the money trail on this project.

Don’t get me excited! If they found a way to connect 78 with Bally’s using a riverwalk that would be a game changer for the city…

I believe Mansueto is funding this himself? So there should be no issue with funds.

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by twister244

To me, it's more about these strategic locations along the river. I feel like Bally's and this project are going to create that push to build out a Riverwalk of some kind from where it's at now in downtown. Obviously that will take time, but if done in segments over time, my hope is you can start to create a world class walk way that goes from downtown to the South to this stadium, and to the North to Bally's and beyond eventually.

I'm assuming funding is ready to go for this? I haven't really followed the money trail on this project.

Yep. Obviously, developing and highlighting the river has been a top priority of the last few decades, but I feel there is never a bad time to speed up the timeline and double down on efforts. The river, from Ashland in the south to Montrose in the North, should be a continuous riverwalk string with river-facing homes and businesses.

[Randomguy34]

Pending permits for the stadium, the formal address is 1331 S Wells St.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

Pending permits for the stadium, the formal address is 1331 S Wells St.

Nice! I'm pretty excited for this, mostly because it's a jump start to finally get this land developing and it's on the river.

[BVictor1]

11.05.25