CHICAGO | Lincoln Yards

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Bonsai Tree

Genuinely fascinated by this. They have little experience outside a few grocery stores and the Sears 6 Corners redevelopment. Kinda hope they partner with JDL on the development. Wonder how much they paid and how big they need to go to recoup their investment. It has to be more than JDL offered (60 mil) but clearly not by much, given the "bargain" they received on it.

Yeah they've been around for awhile doing suburban stuff and mostly GC. But they did the Six Corners project, and they are doing multifam at the other former Sears store at North & Harlem in Galewood.

Since it's Novak, though, I'm concerned this is a play for a big warehouse. LY South is a big and roughly rectangular site with proximity to wealthy neighborhoods, so it's well suited for a last mile e-commerce warehouse. I don't think Novak is one of Amazon's preferred developers, but they could certainly partner with Wal Mart, Wayfair or another big online retailer.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Yeah they've been around for awhile doing suburban stuff and mostly GC. But they did the Six Corners project, and they are doing multifam at the other former Sears store at North & Harlem in Galewood.

Since it's Novak, though, I'm concerned this is a play for a big warehouse. LY South is a big and roughly rectangular site with proximity to wealthy neighborhoods, so it's well suited for a last mile e-commerce warehouse. I don't think Novak is one of Amazon's preferred developers, but they could certainly partner with Wal Mart, Wayfair or another big online retailer.

Was previous LY PD zoning for the South parcel already approved?

[ardecila]

Yes. Novak would need a zoning change to build a warehouse here, and that's sure to be contentious. They'll probably try to greenwash it with a riverwalk that they're legally obligated to build anyway, and some cheapo murals covering the blank walls. Honestly they would have a pretty good argument for traffic, the site used to be 2FM and had thousands of garbage trucks coming and going all day. An e commerce warehouse is a similar level of traffic, minus the gross smells.

Here's hoping they have a plan for mixed use residential and not some crappy warehouse though....

[r18tdi]

Given the utter failure of the brand new "vertical warehouse" at 1237 W. Division (unused, 100% empty and for sale), I wouldn't think Novak would make the same mistake at LY South, but who knows...

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Given the utter failure of the brand new "vertical warehouse" at 1237 W. Division (unused, 100% empty and for sale), I wouldn't think Novak would make the same mistake at LY South, but who knows...

What a fucking joke..

[ardecila]

I think the Division St failure is kind of a fluke; the developer built it on spec without an anchor tenant, with an unusual and unproven vertical configuration. The city is also planning a big project to rebuild the Division St bridges which will may restrict access to the site for several years. On top of that, the developer may have unrealistic expectations for what a tenant will pay for warehouse space in this location. I still think it can be successful, but somebody needs to take a haircut first.

I mean, we've seen plenty of other successful warehouse projects around the city especially when Amazon is behind it. Division/Kostner, Halsted/Archer, 35th/Ashland, 43rd/Damen, 25th/Rockwell, 35th/Pulaski, etc.

(For the record, these are all urban planning and policy failures even if they were financially successful ventures.)

[BVictor1]

January 2026 Plan Commission

A proposed amendment to Waterway Residential-Business Planned Development 1439, submitted by Foundry Park Properties KP7, LLC, for the property generally located at 1300-1422 & 1301-1511 West Cortland Street, 1940-2076 North Kingsbury Street, 2046-2068 & 2041-2047 North Southport Avenue, 1401-1443 West Dickens Avenue, 2084-2166 North Dominick Street, 1736-2082 & 1739-2077 North Throop Street, 1400-1440 & 1401-1433 West Armitage Avenue, 1503-1523 West Webster Avenue and 1801-1853 North Elston Avenue. The applicant proposes to amend Planned Development 1439 to change the plan of development to allow for the development of up to 3,737 dwelling units including single-family homes, townhomes, and multi-family dwellings, approximately 350,000 square feet of office space, 420,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, 200,000 square feet of hotel uses, public parks and open space, riverwalks, new streets and alleys, and enclosed and below-grade parking. The maximum height for each subarea will vary from 50 feet to 520 feet. A 0.78 FAR (Floor Area Ratio) bonus will be utilized. The applicant proposes to divide the Planned Development property into subareas A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H, which will have maximum FARs of 1.40, 1.02, 5.23, 5.11, 3.45, 3.85, 6.13, and 1.92 respectively, and the overall FAR of the planned development will be 3.78.

[ardecila]

LOL. Not within the Lincoln Yards PD but this site was definitely part of Sterling Bay's larger play to dominate the area.

Sterling Bay unloads more property near Lincoln Yards
By Danny Ecker
January 05, 2026 12:52 PM

Sterling Bay has sold another development site near its failed Lincoln Yards megaproject, continuing its retreat from the North Side area where it once envisioned a $6 billion mixed-use campus.

An affiliate of Calgary, Alberta-based Jack Carter Automotive Group paid $15.5 million last month for a pair of neighboring parcels at 1642 N. Besly Court and 1400 W. North Ave., according to Cook County records. The entity bought the properties near the intersection of North Avenue and the Kennedy Expressway from a venture of Chicago-based Sterling Bay, which acquired them more than seven years ago as it was assembling land for Lincoln Yards.

These car dealers don't have anything in the US currently, but my guess is they're planning a Cadillac dealership on the site similar to the one in Calgary. There's already a mini cluster of luxury dealerships off the Kennedy at North Ave, and there's currently no Cadillac dealerships in city limits. Gotta buy your Escalade somewhere....

[left of center]

If they are "urban" dealerships (multi story, little to no surface parking space) like the Mercedes and Audi dealerships on the other side of 90/94, I'm all for it. Better for Cadillac owners to keep those service dollars flowing within the city instead of driving out to the burbs.

[r18tdi]

I believe there used to be a Cadillac dealer/service center in the Clybourn Corridor, at the intersection of Dayton and Weed (now Leader Automotive Group Toyota).

[CrazyCres]

Plan Commission presentation is out

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...PowerPoint.pdf

Cool to see that Phase 1 parking will be completely underground

[mh777]

Originally Posted by CrazyCres

Plan Commission presentation is out

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...PowerPoint.pdf

Cool to see that Phase 1 parking will be completely underground

"Anticipated groundbreaking October 2026"

[lakeshoredrive]

Originally Posted by mh777

"Anticipated groundbreaking October 2026"

I am surprise phase one is starting with subarea d that includes the 520 ft tower.

[Randomguy34]

Originally Posted by lakeshoredrive

I am surprise phase one is starting with subarea d that includes the 520 ft tower.

Almost half of the tower is condos, so presales will help with financing for construction. Considering this is Lincoln Park and JDL is designing them, expect some pretty high demand

[dreamy-developer]

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

Considering this is Lincoln Park and JDL is designing them, expect some pretty high demand

I was just about the say the same thing - I wouldn't be surprised even in this housing market if those condos are easily sold for the area/neighborhood.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by CrazyCres

Plan Commission presentation is out

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...PowerPoint.pdf

Cool to see that Phase 1 parking will be completely underground

Shame the overall design aesthetic is Boston or Baltimore harbor, circa 1998

[Randomguy34]

Was hoping they'd use terra cotta for the flatiron building, but looks like they're going with brick. Terra cotta though will be used for the highrise facades

[twister244]

Am I the only one getting 2005 rendering vibes here? These street views really do look like something out of that era - Overall I'm happy with the overall plan for the sites, but I'm really hoping these initial sketches get revised......

[Jstange059]

Originally Posted by twister244

Am I the only one getting 2005 rendering vibes here? These street views really do look like something out of that era - Overall I'm happy with the overall plan for the sites, but I'm really hoping these initial sketches get revised......

I think it's less the design of the the streetscape that's 2005 but rather just the actual rendering style. Today, we're used to seeing the computer rendered renderings of spaces, while these more sketch-y and watercolorish renders used to be far more common back when computer renderings were far less realistic and more difficult. That being said, there are some changes to the streetscape that does not seem to be reflected here, such as the addition of raised protected bike lanes.

[Jstange059]

Does anyone know what they're planning on doing with the old archway at the north end of Southport (at Southport and Kingsbury)? The overall site plan shows it being left in the exact same location it is currently at, where it'll look like a weird piece of sidewalk furniture and not actually be a gateway to anything. However, in the renderings and some of the newer site plans, I do not seem to see it depicted. I'd love to see them move it so it spans across Southport and acts as an entry gateway into the neighborhood