Clybourn Place could get 520-foot-tall tower as part of redevelopment

CRM Properties, the owner of Clybourn Place at 1800 N. Clybourn, is looking to overhaul the mostly vacant shopping center with plans that could include a 500-unit residential tower alongside a series of new retail buildings. Located in Lincoln Park, the property runs along N. Clybourn Ave and N. Sheffield Ave bisected by W. Willow St and bound by N. Marcey St to the west. 

Dubbed the Willow Street District, the new plan designed by Lamar Johnson Collaborative would see the new construction of 70,875 square feet of retail space supported by 447 enclosed and surface parking spaces as well as pedestrian walkways through the property. 

Most of the existing buildings on the site would be demolished under the plan, aside from preserving part of the former Bed Bath & Beyond structure and two decorative masonry towers remaining from a William D. Gibson Co. Spring plant — and later a Turtle Wax plant — that was built on the site in 1908. The new retail building along Clybourn and Sheffield would get a third tower to mimic the historic two in the other buildings.

A proposed residential tower would be sited on the southwest side of the site along N. Marcey St, replacing a vacant, single-story retail structure and surface parking. The approximately 520-foot-tall tower would have 500 luxury rental units with additional parking for residents. 

The developer plans to build out the new retail space first before approaching developing the tower. According to CoStar, a representative from the developer stated that retail construction would be done by early 2026 after which they would go back to the city to get final approvals for the residential tower.