Soil is being turned on a long-vacant lot in the South Loop, and it just might mean that construction is underway for 626 South Wabash. Melrose Ascension Capital and DAC Developments are co-developers here, and they got caisson and full building permits back in 2022, but this is the first action we’ve seen on the site since then.
Rendering of 626 South Wabash by Antunovich Associates
Rendering of 626 South Wabash by Antunovich Associates
The permit allows for a 19-story building with 164 residential units. Eighty of them are efficiency units, with 24 two-bedroom and 60 four-bedroom floor plans making up the remainder. A 64-space parking garage, storage for 100 bicycles, and 4,100 square feet of retail space are planned for the podium. A rooftop deck with a swimming pool is just one of the amenities planned for residents. Antunovich Associates is the design architect for the tower.
Shout-out to Instagram’s @mrsouthloop (Alex) for the tip about the site’s activity. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
From the alley under the Orange/Green Line tracks. Photo by Daniel Schell
A series of reinstatement permits have been issued for the project, with the latest one coming through on July 1 of last year. It stated that work would need to start by January of this year, or else an inspection request needed to be submitted. An express permit issued in January changed the general contractor to Clark Construction. Another good omen for this tower coming to life is a permit received one month ago that shows a couple more contractor changes; that means a construction start is still high on the developers’ priority list.
Looking east from the back of the construction site. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
We’ve reached out to those involved in the project to find out if indeed tower construction is underway, but have yet to hear from them. even if the tower isn’t yet getting started, there’s definitely a good reason this work is being done. Stay tuned.
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Great news, that was one of the most rat infested vacant lots in the city – horror movie stuff.
Hallelujah!
Woop! About time!!!
Holy sh*t finally
Thank you Alex for the tip. This site is major entryway to the loop and it’s development is significantly important to the South Loop. I would, of course, hope the developer will volunteer their site to use the New York model to reduce the rat population. Currently, Wicker Park Chamber of Commerce is the Chicago Pilot site. The building design concepts are wonderful and the inclusion of 4 bedroom units is most appreciated. Now that’s density!