This week, YIMBY had the opportunity to attend the official groundbreaking ceremony for 920 N Wells Street, an 18-story mixed-use building in Near North Side. Developed by JDL in partnership with Square Mile Capital and Intercontinental Real Estate, the project marks the first step in a $1.3 billion development by JDL known as North Union, which will span across 8.1 acres on land formerly owned by the Moody Bible Institute.
920 N Wells Street. Photo by Jack Crawford
920 N Wells Street. Photo by Jack Crawford
Groundbreaking ceremony at 920 N Wells Street. Photo by Jack Crawford
JDL Founder and CEO James Letchinger. Photo by Jack Crawford
At six million square feet, the overall scheme will provide more than three times the net floor area than its predecessor One Chicago development, located just several blocks south east. JDL’s vision for the project is to essentially build a neighborhood from the ground up, adding a mix of 2,656 residential units, an array of new commercial space, and over 100,000 square feet of public space into Near North Side. As can be seen in the shape of its logo, the property assemblage forms an offset Tetris shape stretching four blocks from Chestnut Street up to Hill Street.
Updated rendering of North Union from the west by HPA
The sheer degree of added height and density will shift the northern skyline’s center of gravity further inland, counterbalancing the long-dominant Magnificent Mile corridor.
Updated rendering of 868 N Wells Street by HPA
Updated rendering of 920 and 868 N Wells Street by HPA
Updated rendering of 920 and 868 N Wells Street by HPA
Now underway the first tower will contain 228 rental apartments atop 10,000 square feet of retail space. With Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture behind the masterplan and buildings, the initial 920 N Wells Street consists of an elongated hexagonal massing with interchanging stacks of balconies at its northern and southern ends. The high rise will be wrapped in a glass curtain wall facade with white metal floor slips, capped by an amenity penthouse and rooftop deck.
Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. of the 27th Ward. Photo by Jack Crawford
Alderman Brian Hopkins of the 2nd Ward. Photo by Jack Crawford
Within the base will be a 105-car parking garage and a bike room with 207 spaces. Other transit options near the site include a Divvy station at the northeast corner, as well as bus stops for Routes 22, 37, 66, 70, and 156 in close walking distance. Also nearby are both the Brown and Purple L Lines at Chicago station, via a seven-minute walk south. Next closest L service is the other Chicago station for the Red Line via an 11-minute walk southeast.
Trailing closely behind 920 N Wells Street will be North Union’s second building at 868 N Wells Street, set to stand 25 stories and offer 428 apartments and 12,000 square feet of ground-level retail. With Power Construction as the general contractor, both towers are currently anticipated to complete by next year. Meanwhile, a full completion date for North Union has moved up from 2029 to 2026.
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More property taxes for the city and lots of union jobs here, exciting development. Yes the architecture is pretty meh but interesting development nonetheless.
Love the parking ratio in this development!
So glad this is getting the fast track!
ugh.. can’t believe my neighborhood is going to have to deal with construction for the next 7 years. and a casino. This sucks.
Guess you could move and not have to deal with it 🤷♂️
There’s also the anticipated construction of Halsted Point.
Feeling entitled much Dawn? How awful for you that you have to deal w/a little extra traffic & noise even though the benefits at project completion will be substantial for you & many other city residents.
You chose to live in a city & neighborhood where construction is ever present. Perhaps a home in the country or Cleveland (no construction there) would be a better fit.
These ready-made downtowns are almost never urban in feel. This is really just a modern take on towers-in-a-park. I don’t see how this doesn’t become mini-Lakeshore East. They also utterly Butchered 868 N. Wells. Like Lincoln yards this architecture is purely meant to blend and not offend.