Renderings emerge for South Loop mixed-use developments

Renderings have emerged for three upcoming mixed-use developments in the South Loop. All planned by CMK Companies, the three projects are located at 1630 S. Wabash, 1700 S. Wabash and 1730 S. Wabash. The project sites are all vacant and back up to the CTA tracks. 

The northernmost of the three proposals, 1630 S. Wabash is planned to be a 12-story residential tower with 149 residential units. Located across from Fred Anderson Park, the project site is currently vacant and backs up to the CTA L tracks. 

Designed by Pappageorge Haymes Partners, the first two floors will have 105 parking spaces with the residential lobby and associated uses expected on the ground floor. The 149 residential units will occupy the upper floors. 

Located directly south of 1630 S. Wabash, 1700 S. Wabash is a more modest 9-story residential building with 37 apartments. The unit mix will consist of 11 studios, 10 one-beds, 14 two-beds, and two three-bedroom units on the top floor. 4 parking spaces will be provided inside the ground floor towards the back of the building.

Designed by Pappageorge Haymes Partners, the ground floor will occupy the full site, with the residential entry and garage entry both facing S. Wabash Ave. Starting on the second floor, the residential tower sets back from the south and west property lines and gives second floor units outdoor terraces. Clad in a glass and metal window wall system, the tower massing continues up vertically until the ninth floor, where the building steps in from the east and west sides to create terraces for the two three-bedroom units. The tower will top out at 115 feet with mechanical screens blocking the mechanical units from view.

At the corner of S. Wabash Ave and E. 18th St, 1730 S. Wabash is the third development included in the recently released renderings. With Pappageorge Haymes Partners serving as the architect, the development will be 12 stories tall with 110 residential units. The ground floor will have commercial space, and the building will provide 80 parking spaces on the first and second floors.

All three buildings have full building permits issued for construction. Foundation work briefly began for both 1630 S. Wabash and 1730 S. Wabash but has been stalled since early 2024. Brandts Build LLC is serving as the general contractor.