A pair of tower crane permits came through for Chicago on March 12, a small sign that this could be a busier year for large construction projects in the city than what we’ve seen the past couple years. Both cranes will erect residential buildings: one on the Near South Side, and one in the West Loop.
Phase 1C of the Southbridge development from The Community Builders got a crane permit for the residential building at 2305 South State Street. Its application date is shown as February 13. Foundations for the 12-story, 80-unit tower were permitted on October 16, with the full building permit following on November 26. General contractor McHugh Construction and concrete contractor McHugh Concrete have gotten started this week prepping for caissons, with work expecting to hit its full stride very soon.
Rendering of Southbridge phase 1C by Gensler and Nia Architects
In The Loop, 566 West Van Buren also saw its tower crane permit come through on March 12, with a filing date of February 5. A full permit for this 12-story, 199-unit residential building from Riverside Investment & Development has been pending in the Chicago Data Portal since August 22 of last year. Located on the northeast corner of Van Buren and South Jefferson Streets, it will be erected by Clark Construction, with Adjustable Concrete Construction on hand as the concrete contractor.
2022 rendering of 566 West Van Buren Street by Antunovich Associates
For an optimistic look at what 2026 may have in store for large construction projects in Chicago, here’s a breakdown from Building Up Chicago.
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Excellent. Keep these midrise projects coming!
Chicago is getting squatty on land in prime locations with 8 to 10 floors. Should 2x tall on Van Buren site.
Excuse me, I pass by that location at least 10 times a week. There’s nothing prime about that site. Additionally, the buildings’ height matches that of the surrounding areas.
I agree, Chicago should have more skscrapers constructed – enough of these squad, boxy buildings. Although, I do like these designs – just make them taller.
Don’t let perfect get in the way of good/progress. Chicago has tons of vacant lots and full of potential. Any lot filled is pressure on bigger investors replacing midrises with high rises/skyscrapers. Once the parking lots and vacant lots are filled, then we can complain.
Exactly, well-said. The level of short-sighted whining around here is disappointing.
Since 2009 all the following skyscrapers have been completed in Chicago: the 7th and 11th tallest buildings in the US (1,400 and 1,200 feet respectively); a 970-footer; seven more of at least 800 feet; six more of at least 700 feet.
Ten of those have arrived since 2017, and 400 Lake Shore Drive will soon add another to the 800-foot category. Having the development cycle spread out for a while seems healthy for the city.
No doubt the skyscraper-builders will be back with a fresh wave soon. And of course then the knee-jerk carping on here will be about why there aren’t more mid-rises and neighborhood-scale developments, rinse and repeat…
Totally agree that Chicago feels like it’s finally inching back after a rough couple years. We’re definitely not back to the late‑2010s “cranes everywhere” era yet, but it does feel like the floor is behind us. What’s interesting is that the projects moving forward now are very specific, mostly residential, institutional stuff, or really well‑capitalized developments. Fulton Market, South Loop housing, Bally’s, Google at the Thompson Center… that all tracks.
Compared to other cities: NYC is probably doing the best among the big legacy cities — still slow, but more consistent. LA actually feels more stuck than Chicago right now, despite the demand, just because costs and approvals are brutal. Texas cities like Dallas and Houston are still ahead overall, but even they’ve cooled from the frenzy a few years ago. Nashville might be the biggest contrast — it boomed hard and now feels like it slammed the brakes.
So yeah, Chicago isn’t “booming,” but it is cautiously waking back up. Seeing permits pop and surprise cranes (like Southbridge) is a good sign, even if the skyline still feels quieter than we’re used to.
Austin is cooking Chicago right now
Feels like a decent amount of mid-small permits + projects. Can’t complain. Also nice to see projects in neighborhoods like Edgewater and Bridgeport. Not just the places of same old.
566 W Van Buren, west of the river, is not “in the Loop.”
Not even close. Thanks. I’ll correct that.