City celebrates opening of Damen Green Line station

Mayor Brandon Johnson today joined 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) President Dorval R. Carter, Jr., Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Commissioner Tom Carney and Near West Side stakeholders to announce the opening of the new CTA Damen Green Line station at Lake St and Damen Ave.

“This new station is a transformational achievement for our city,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “The long-awaited Damen Green Line on the Near West Side of Chicago will have a multiplying effect on this neighborhood, attracting future investments for a vibrant hub of multi-use developments.”  

The new Damen Green Line station fills a 1.5-mile service gap between Ashland and California stops, restoring rail service to the neighborhood for the first time since the original station was closed at this location in 1948. The station serves the Kinzie Industrial Corridor, the United Center, Malcolm X College, and the surrounding residential area on the growing Near West Side. This includes the Chicago Housing Authority’s Westhaven Park IID, a $50 million, equitable transit-oriented development (eTOD) project adding 96 mixed-income apartments in the community. 

The station provides easy access to CTA buses, space for pedestrians to walk, and bike-sharing options. CDOT announced the installation of the City's 1,000th Divvy station at the Damen Green Line, helping the station serve as a multi-modal facility to provide various sustainable and equitable transportation options for the neighborhood.  

The $80 million TIF-funded project was administered by CDOT in close collaboration with the CTA. Designed by Perkins&Will, the project was built by construction contractor F.H. Paschen.

Station materials and design elements were chosen and arranged to create an intuitive user experience and to allow for a long-lasting transit facility with low-maintenance requirements. A grand stair and escalator, visible through the transparent glass façade, guide passengers to the platform level. A glass bridge connects the inbound and outbound train platforms, offering spectacular views of the Chicago skyline and orienting visitors to neighborhood destinations and attractions. The bridge's visible structure references Chicago's iconic steel bridges. 
 
The new station also features a large mural by the noted artist, Folayemi Wilson, that highlights the rich history of various ethnic groups on the Near West Side. The mural depicts a scene on the prairie with images of young people taken from local photographic archives peering towards the horizon and imagining their future. Wilson was commissioned for the work by the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). The CTA includes artwork in its new stations to not only further enhance the space, but also create a connection with the surrounding community and inspire those who travel through the facility.