Plan Commission approves Morgan Park Commons at 11420 S. Halsted

The Chicago Plan Commission has approved Morgan Park Commons, a mixed-use development located at the northwest corner of W. 115th St and S. Halsted St. Addressed at 11420 S. Halsted, the new multi-phase development would be built on the 12-acre site of a former Jewel-Osco that has been vacant for over 16 years.

Planned by the Far South Community Development Corporation, POAH, and DL3 Realty, the site will be split up into multiple phases encompassing 244 residential units, retail space, a performing arts center, and a new 2-acre park for the neighborhood. The development will reintegrate the property into the city grid with the dedication of a new W. 114th Pl and S. Peoria St.

Designed by Lamar Johnson Collaborative, the first phase will include two five-story mixed-use buildings. Topping out at 60 feet tall, the buildings will have a total of 70 apartments, 72 bike parking spaces, and 81 car parking spaces. The 70 residential units will be mixed income with a split of 4 units at 30% AMI, 62 units at 60% AMI and 4 market rate units.

Separated by W. 114th Pl along S. Halsted St, the north building of the two will be Building A.1 which will have two live/work units on the ground floor, 1,193 square feet of retail space, a fitness center, and back of house spaces with 36 bike parking spaces outside underneath the building. 41 car parking spaces will be located behind the building in a surface lot. The upper floors of the building will have 35 residential units with a mix of 3 studios, 17 one-beds, and 15 two-beds. 

To the south of W. 114th Pl reaching down to W. 115th St, Building A.2 will have two live/work units on the ground floor in addition to a community room and office space with mechanical along the back side of the building. A further 36 bike parking spaces and 40 car parking spaces will be included behind the building. The upper floors will have 35 residential units with a mix of 3 studios, 17 one-beds, and 15 two-beds. 

The buildings have been designed as cousins, using the same design language but not being direct replicas of one another. The massing of each building has been broken down with a differentiation in the massing and materials used on the facade. The differentiated planes of the building facade articulate the program of the building within. 

Future phases of the development will include a large park at the west end of the property which will include the performing arts center. The open land in between the first phase buildings and the park will be development sites for future housing. 

Future phases will include more residential, the park, and a community center. The zoning application does not show the design for the future phases but the developer will need incremental approval from the city. 

To allow for the project to move forward, the development needs to be rezone from its existing Planned Development to B3-3 with a new Planned Development designation. With Chicago Plan Commission approval secured, the project can proceed to seek final approvals from the Committee on Zoning and City Council. 

If approved, the developer plans to complete the DOH financial structuring and start construction of the $65 million Phase 1 by Fall 2026.