Concrete work is in full swing at 2128 South Tan Court in Chinatown, as Evergreen Garden begins to take form on the South Side. Columns have risen toward the back of the site along the railroad tracks, while crews are busy pouring concrete at ground level near the front. The crew is working on the northeast end of the large lot, building the first of two residential phases.

Photo by Daniel Schell

Photo by Daniel Schell

Photo by Daniel Schell

The 18th Street Bridge and its tremendous skyline views are a four-block walk away. Photo by Daniel Schell

Rendering of Evergreen Garden by FitzGerald. At right is the first phase, currently under construction. Some units will have amazing skyline views.
Developer and general contractor MPI Contracting got the first permits for the development in spring 2024. The first, allowing piles to be driven for the foundation, came through on April 23. That was followed closely by the full building permit on May 1, 2024. Work paused for a bit after site prep and foundation work began, but all systems are go once again.

Photo by Daniel Schell

Photo by Daniel Schell

Photo by Daniel Schell

Photo by Daniel Schell
Evergreen Garden is a design by FitzGerald. The permit for the first phase of construction calls for 110 studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom condominiums in a six-story building. There will be 44 surface parking spaces included, about half of which will be under cover of the residential units, but not enclosed.

Photo by Daniel Schell

An Orange Line train passes the construction site. Photo by Daniel Schell

Photo by Daniel Schell

Photo by Daniel Schell

Rendering of the first phase of Evergreen Garden by FitzGerald
Evergreen Garden lies adjacent to the south end of Ping Tom Memorial Park along the South Branch of the Chicago River, but the railroad tracks block direct access to the park. The entrance is about a three-block walk away, off 19th Street.

The construction site from Ping Tom Park, as an Orange Line train passes overhead. Photo by Daniel Schell

Concrete columns from Ping Tom Park. Photo by Daniel Schell

Photo by Daniel Schell

Photo by Daniel Schell

In the foreground is the first phase of Evergreen Garden. Rendering by FitzGerald

Evergreen Garden replaces this grass field in view of the Canal Street Railroad Bridge and the Orange Line. Photo by Daniel Schell

Site prep, June 2024. Photo by Daniel Schell
Residents of Evergreen Garden will be within three block of Route 21 and 62 CTA buses. The Cermak/Chinatown Red Line station is four blocks away, and the Cermak/McCormick Green Line platform is two to three blocks further west. The Route 24 Wentworth bus is available about five blocks northeast at Clark and 18th Streets. While the Orange Line whistles past the back side of the site, its nearest stop is almost a mile away at the Halsted platform.
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Great infill project! I said it before and I’ll say it again: now we need a Cermak – Chinatown Orange Line stop.
I think the orange line is on an incline through there so I’m not sure if that’s feasible
I’ll take that back, I think the incline is more by canal st. And the land is certainly there for a station, though it’s probably owned by the railroad who might not cooperate.