The Arts Lawn is an upcoming park project by Arts + Public Life (APL) aiming to provide a space for new events and gathering in the Washington Park neighborhood. The one-acre property, which was formerly an empty grass lot, is now in the final stages of completion.
Details have been revealed for the mixed-use expansion of the Black Ensemble Theater (BE) at 4453 N Clark Street in Uptown. Located directly across the street from the theater’s current home just south of the intersection with W Sunnyside Avenue, the new structure will expand the campus to create a cultural corridor. Originally imagined in 2009, the theater is now moving forward with enlarged plans dubbed ‘The Free To Be Village’ designed by Nia Architects, Gensler, and Site Design Group.
Updated renderings have been revealed for the upcoming Bally’s casino at 777 W Chicago Avenue in River West. Located on the corner with N Halsted Street and replacing the Chicago Tribune printing facility on the site, the casino has received a partial redesign which mainly changed the exterior but leaves the previously proposed interior the same. Rhode Island-based Bally’s is leading the charge for their new flagship property with multiple firms working on its design including SCB, Gensler, Site Design Group, Urbanworks, STL Architects, and NIA Architects among others.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony has been held for the new headquarters of the Chicago Park District and its adjoining park at 4830 S Western Avenue in Brighton Park. Bounded by W 48th Street to the north, the CTA Orange Line to the south, and S Rockwell Street to the west, the expansive multi-block site used to be vacant land after holding multiple manufacturing businesses before. Now the Park District will move its nearly 200 employees from its current offices at 541 N Fairbanks Court in Streeterville.
A construction permit has been granted for a new community roller rink and plaza located at 4012 W Madison Street in West Garfield Park. This public space will be managed by the Chicago Park District and will be replacing a vacant lot that had been used as a temporary rink and plaza. The landscape architect for the project is Site Design Group.
