Plan Commission approves revised design for 350 N. Morgan

The Chicago Plan Commission has approved Sterling Bay’s revised plan for a mixed-use residential tower to replace its approved plan for an office tower at 350 N. Morgan. The project site is a full-block site bound by N. Morgan St to the east, W. Carroll Ave to the south, N. Carpenter St to the west, and the Metra tracks to the north. 

Originally approved back in 2019, the previous office scheme for the site was designed by SOM to be a 18-story office building standing 288 feet tall with 505,000 square feet of creative office space. 

With Gensler now on board, the redesigned plan for the site includes a 39-story mixed-use residential tower. Set to rise 436 feet tall, the building would have 573 rental apartments, 11,000 square feet of ground floor retail, 240 parking spaces, and 573 bike parking spaces. To meet affordability requirements, 115 of the units will be set aside as affordable housing at a weighted average of 60% AMI. 

On the ground floor, the 11,000 square feet of retail space will occupy the entire stretch of frontage along the south side of the building facing the public open space and W. Carroll St. The residential lobby and amenity space will face N. Morgan St with the bike room next to it along the Metra tracks. Both the parking and loading access will be via N. Carpenter St.

The building will feature a four-story podium that fills out the footprint of the site, topped by an amenity deck on the fifth floor. The podium will be clad in brick pilasters and frames with window wall system and glass storefront on the ground floor. The residential tower above will be clad in a dark aluminum window wall system with metal slab edge covers and metal paneling.

To allow for the revised project, Sterling Bay will need to amend the existing Planned Development. The almost $300 million development will pay approximately $4.7 million in Neighborhood Opportunity Fund fees to allow for additional FAR and a $570,000 Industrial Conversion Fee. With approval from the Chicago Plan Commission secured, final approvals will be needed from the Committee on Zoning and City Council. Sterling Bay looks to begin construction on the tower by the end of the year with a 24-month construction timeline following that.