Sterling Bay details Lincoln Yards South plan

Sterling Bay has detailed its plans for Lincoln Yards South, presenting an informational presentation to the Chicago Plan Commission. Located at the southern end of the larger Lincoln Yards site, Lincoln Yards South will develop the land south of the Chicago River, bound by W. Concord Pl and N. Throop St. The plan is made up of three parcels, dubbed B.1, C.1, and D.1.

Located along the river, Parcel B.1 will contain a newly constructed park, riverwalk and seawall. Designed by Site Design Group, the park will feature active recreational uses including a dog run, recreation fields and courts, and a children’s playground. An overlook with a seating area is placed at the northern end of the park facing the river. A couple of small buildings will provide public restrooms as well as space for canoe and kayak rental. A canoe and kayak launch will be located along the eastern edge of the park along the riverwalk. The new riverwalk will engage with a naturalized river edge and connect to the new riverwalk section in front of ALLY at 1229 W. Concord Pl. 

At Parcel D.1, Sterling Bay is planning a 19-story, 223-foot-tall mixed-use building.  Meeting the ground with two floors of commercial and retail space, the remainder of the tower will hold 350 residential units. The unit mix will consist of 102 studios, 171 one-beds, 73 two-beds, and 4 three-beds. Of those units 35 will be affordable, with 10 studios, 17 one-beds, and 8 two-beds. 

Designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, the building is made up of two wings facing the park, with a bridge element between them. Terraces step back as the building rises, with balconies integrated into the facade. The building will have a150 parking spaces located underneath the park’s athletic fields and 75 bike parking spaces. 

The Market Hall will be located to the east of the new tower. Designed for food and beverage tenants, the one-story building will be a key node and front both the park and interior promenade. 

Designed by Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects, the promenade is a public pedestrian space between the Parcel D.1 and C.1 buildings. Running east/west it will stitch the two buildings together, incorporating site furnishings, landscaping beds, and seating. Vehicular drop off will extend up from W. Concord Pl. 

The final site, Parcel C.1 will hold a 15-story office building. Rising 218 feet, the structure will front the promenade and N. Throop St with retail space and an office lobby. Designed by Gensler, the structure will exhibit a concrete diagrid encased in a glass curtain wall. 140 car parking spaces and 70 bike parking spaces will be incorporated, accessed from W. Concord Pl. The eastern side of the parcel will deliver two entertainment venues, including one holding 1,000 seats and one holding 3,500 seats. 

As part of the already approved Planned Development, the buildings will only require internal site plan review from DPD. Sterling Bay will break ground on Parcels C.1 and D.1 as well as the first phase of the park in Q2 of this year. This work is expected to be completed in Q3 of 2024.