Demo permit issued to make way for 370 N. Morgan

A demolition permit has been issued for the former Fox Deluxe building at 370 N. Morgan to make way for a new mixed-use development. Planned by Vista Property Group, the development will be the first phase of their three-tower mixed-use development at the intersection of W. Kinzie St and N. Morgan St. The site is bound by W. Kinzie St to the north, N. Morgan St to the east, the Metra tracks to the south, and N. Carpenter St to the west.

With Antunovich Associates recently replacing Gensler as the architect, the 370 N. Morgan tower has undergone some slight modifications to its program and massing. With a split of 154 efficiency units and 339 dwelling units, the unit count has been increased by three from 492 to 495, while the parking count has been reduced from 222 to 190. 80% of the parking spaces will be electric-vehicle ready instead of 100%.

The massing of the tower has been shortened by cutting the height by three floors and going from 410 feet down to 380 feet in height. While the podium has largely remained the same, the residential tower has been widened to stretch the entire width of the site, accommodating the similar unit count in a shorter massing. The building’s facade has been revised to use dark metal paneling and slab edge covers and the podium will use acid etched glass instead of fritted glass with perforated metal paneling around the parking floors.

On the ground floor, the residential lobby will remain overlooking the intersection of Kinzie and Morgan, with a retail space occupying the rest of the N. Morgan St frontage. A new landscaped plaza will front both spaces overlooking the intersection. In lieu of more retail space along W. Kinzie St, the revised plan will locate management and leasing offices along Kinzie behind the lobby and a bike room with 494 spaces will occupy the rest of the Kinzie St frontage. Loading and parking access will remain from N. Carpenter St. 

With the demolition permit issued, demolition contractor Heneghan Wrecking & Excavating can clear the property to make way for the new development. Permit filings show Skender Construction will be the general contractor for the new construction.