Landmark Development has revealed further details for the first phase of its One Central mega-development, which will cap the rail tracks in the Near South Side. Although often considered the most ambitious of the current mega-projects proposed for the city, such as The 78 and Lincoln Yards, Landmark is pushing forward with the Gensler-designed complex despite recent worries that The Chicago Bears could depart from nearby Soldier Field. The first phase will come at a cost of $3.8 billion and is being dubbed as the ‘Civic Build’ phase of the project.
Community Context for ONE Central. Diagram by Landmark Development
Included in the first phase is the new multi-story transit hub which will connect CTA, Metra, and Amtrak trains together and includes a new transit line with stops like Navy Pier and Soldier Field. The transit hub would be connected to a new 400,000-square-foot Experiential District meant to serve as an extension of McCormick Place, and feature a digital media center and large event floor with the capacity to host informational attractions and tailgate-like events. Both of these parts would eventually be taken over by the city as part of the financial deal formed between the two.
Neighborhood District at ONE Central. Rendering by Landmark Development
The Experiential District is one of four districts envisioned in this first phase, as we previously reported, this will be accompanied by a Neighborhood District to the north. The 275,000-square-foot district is anchored by a grocery store and public market with the remaining space split between dining and retail destinations. South of the transit hub will be the 310,000-square-foot Lifestyle district which will be made up of various retail shops, an outpatient center, and other health and wellness offerings such as a large fitness club, similar to what we’ve seen at other major projects recently.
Rendering of Lifestyle District by Gensler
The last district will be the Entertainment District, the 435,000-square-foot area will bring new live entertainment venues, bars, nightclubs, and more dining experiences to the area. The stages here will join a continuously growing list for the city including Ramova Theater restoration in Bridgeport and Morton Salt Warehouse Complex in West Town. All four districts, the transit hub, and 200,000 square feet of residential space would be built simultaneously and are reportedly fully financed but awaiting the final piece of state funding to break ground.
Rendering of Entertainment District by Gensler
After this phase is completed, the largest and vertical portion of the project will proceed with construction. Phase two of the plan is subdivided into multiple steps which will finish construction approximately in 2040, this currently includes nine high-rises with the tallest being over 1,000 feet and plan to bring 9.3 million square feet of residential space, 9.45 million square feet of commercial soace, and 1.5 million square feet for hotel lodgings. Landmark hopes to bring phase one to the Committee on Zoning before the end of the year. Although no ground-breaking date was given, Landmark previously planned to begin phase two by 2025 so construction would need to begin soon to meet the original schedule.
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I’m excited about the idea of a mega-project here. I’m reserving comment on any of the specific architectural features for now, but my big questions are about the transportation hub. This hub would seemingly be transformative for the region (there are zero places currently where CTA and Metra lines are truly connected), but based on plodding pace at which new rail infrastructure is developed, wouldn’t years of coordination with federal, state, and regional transportation authorities be required before launching such an ambitious undertaking? For one thing, you would need to build/retrofit train lines to even bring them together at this spot — it’s not just a matter of building a “hub” because not all of the spokes currently exist.
I don’t see any of these details noted in any of the One Central plans, which seem to be more “marketing scheme” than anything right now. I’m not getting my hopes up.
Agreed re: staying skeptical. The original plans mentioned a circulator system that would do something needed, which is dependable service to Soldier Field and the Museum Campus. Why not a loop that connects the Roosevelt superstation to One Central and Soldier Field before returning? Add a connection to McCormick and it would actually help ease traffic congestion instead of just adding to it by having a hub that is totally self-serving for the project.