First buildings of Southbridge development take shape in South Loop

The first phase of the massive mixed-income Southbridge development is coming together in Chicago's South Loop. Twin six-story apartment buildings with ground-floor retail and parking have topped off at 2310 and 2344 S. State Street.

The Southbridge development is a public-private partnership between developers The Community Builders and McCaffery Interests and the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA). The multiphase project is situated on an 11-acre site previously occupied by the Harold Ickes Homes, which opened in 1955 and was demolished in 2010. 

The South Side site's redevelopment eventually calls for up to 877 mixed-income homes with both rental and for-sale units, 60,000 square feet of retail space, and almost 7 acres of open space. Infrastructure improvements include new sewer lines, the reconstruction of 23rd, 24th, and Dearborn streets, and a new roadway dubbed 23rd Place.

The transit-oriented development is two blocks from the Cermak-McCormick Green Line station and three blocks from the Cermak-Chinatown Red Line stop. The property is also next to the Chicago Park District’s Park 540, the Jones College Prep track and field, and the National Teacher's Academy.

Designed by Antunovich Associates and Nia Architects and master-planned by Gensler, phase one of Southbridge features 206 apartments with 28 units set aside as affordable housing and 68 units reserved for CHA households. The remaining 112 apartments will be rented at market rate. Resident move-ins are expected later this year. 

As a public-private partnership, Southbridge relies on various funding sources, including tax-increment financing (TIF), affordable housing tax credits, and other equity sources. McShane Powers Joint Venture serves as the project's general contractor.