As the sixth entry in our Dead by Design series, the Chicago Spire was a proposed 150-story “megatall” skyscraper that was to be located at the mouth of the Chicago River in Streeterville. At 2,000 feet in height, it would have been the tallest building in the United States and the third-tallest building in the world (soon to be fourth with the incoming completion of Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur).
Full permits have been issued for the RIU Plaza Hotel Chicago at 150 E Ontario Street in Streeterville. Located just east of the intersection with N Michigan Avenue, developer The Prime Group broke ground on the new tower earlier this year, replacing an empty lot. The property will be run by Spain-based RIU Hotels and is being designed by local architecture firm Lucien LaGrange Studio, who recently merged with Lamar Johnson Collaborative.
Plans for a 12-story Old Town hotel known as “The Duke of Wells” have been brought back online. This week, the project at 1528 N Wells Street received its first official permit for foundation work to begin. With Condor Partners as the developer, the project will bring 203 new hotel rooms to the thoroughfare, already one of the city’s busiest restaurant and bar scenes. Construction was originally approved back in 2020, and will replace a currently empty lot that was previously the site of a since-demolished O’Brien’s restaurant.
Steel has officially reached its full height for a six-story condominium building known as “Madison + Carpenter,” located at 6 N Carpenter Street in West Loop. Real estate developer ZSD is planning to construct 13 condominiums, with four- and five-bedroom residences available. The project will replace a set of lower brick buildings that were demolished last year.
The Community Development Commission has initially approved funding for the mixed-use development at 4715 N Western Avenue in Lincoln Square. Located on the intersection with W Leland Avenue, just south of W Lawrence Avenue, the lots currently serve as a city-owned surface parking lot whose sale is also included in the package. Developer The Community Builders, who operate other residential properties in the city, has partnered up with local architecture firm DesignBridge on the design of the new building across the street from the soon-to-be renovated DANK Haus.
