400 Lake Shore Drive shows signs of life

Related Midwest’s 400 Lake Shore Drive proposal is showing signs of life over three years after the project was initially approved by the city. Located on the former Chicago Spire site, the development is bound by the Chicago River to the south and Lake Shore Drive to the east. 

With the pending permit addressed at 462 E. North Water St, the filing shows that the northern tower will be up first for construction. Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the 73-story skyscraper will rise 875 feet tall clad in a glass and aluminum window wall with decorative metal accent panels. The project will deliver 635 rental apartments overlooking downtown and Lake Michigan with 300 underground parking spaces serving the building.  

As part of the project, Related Midwest has committed $10 million to the development of DuSable Park, a plot of land across from the site on the east side of Lake Shore Drive. The project will also complete Founder’s Way, creating a landscaped riverfront walkway that extends to DuSable Park.

The development, set to include 20% affordable units, is in the process of securing $510 million in funding from the Illinois Housing Development Authority. With pending permits and financing in the works, the long-dormant proposal is back in business and on the way towards groundbreaking. A timeline for completion is currently unknown.