Plan Commission approves revised development at 400 N. Morgan

The Chicago Plan Commission has approved a revised scheme for the mixed-use development planned at 400 N. Morgan. Planned by VISTA Property, the project site is located at the corner of W. Kinzie St and N. Morgan St. The project at 400 N. Morgan will be the second phase of a three-tower mixed-use development planned by the developer. The first phase at 370 N. Morgan is under construction and is expected to be completed in Spring 2027. 

Originally approved in 2023 as part of the overall Planned Development, 400 N. Morgan was planned to rise 41 stories and 478 feet tall, with 478 residential units, 4,800 square feet of retail space, and 192 parking spaces. 

As part of the redesign, the developer has acquired the corner property at 403 N. Carpenter, allowing this second phase of the project to occupy the entire block bounded by W. Kinzie St to the south, the Metra tracks to the north, N. Morgan St to the east, and N. Carpenter St to the west. 

With the site expanded to occupy the full block, the building’s design has been revised to be a shorter 24-story building reaching only 285 feet in height. Designed by Antunovich Associates, the building’s form has been revised to have a three-story brick podium with an L-shaped glass and metal tower rising above it. The project will reduce its unit count from 478 to 427 apartments and reduce the parking count from 192 spaces to 149 spaces. To meet ARO requirements, 86, or 20%, of the units will be set aside as affordable. 

The original plan for the overall development was to include public outdoor space in the third phase of the project at 401 N. Morgan. However, with the expanded site area in Phase 2, the open space will now be constructed on the 400 N. Morgan site, allowing for the public space to be delivered sooner. The open space will have a large open lawn, seating areas, planting, and a public art feature. 

On the ground floor of the building, active uses face the open green space with the residential lobby, a resident amenity space, and the 7,000 square feet of retail space. The residential lobby will be accessed from N. Morgan St with the leasing offices and bike room completing the N. Morgan St frontage. The remainder of the ground floor will have mechanical spaces, a dog run, and parking and loading access from N. Carpenter St.

The building’s podium will have two floors of parking to accommodate the 149 parking spaces planned for the project. At the 4th floor, the residential tower will begin with the first floor that includes apartments and an amenity space opening out to an outdoor terrace amenity. 

Typical residential floors will have 22 units per floor, with select units having private balconies. The penthouse level of the building will have larger units including two three-bedroom units. With a total of 427 units, the project’s unit mix will include 131 studios, 231 one-beds, 63 two-beds, and 2 three-beds. On the 24th floor, residents will have access to indoor amenity spaces as well as an outdoor pool deck. 

To allow for the expanded and revised development plan, the developer is seeking to amend the existing Planned Development to include the new parcel and rezone it from M2-3 to DX-7 within the amended Planned Development. With approval from the Chicago Plan Commission secured, the proposal can seek final approvals from the Committee on Zoning and City Council. If approved, permit submission is planned for early 2027. Construction is planned to begin in March 2028 and be completed in January 2030.