WEST LOOP— After a proposed 51-story skyscraper was stymied by community opposition, the project is making some inroads with a community organization following revisions.
The West Loop’s Chamber of Commerce West Central Association threw its support behind Related Midwest and Tucker Developments’ updated plans at 170 N. Peoria St.
West Central Association President Armando Chacon said developers reduced the height of the proposed 51-story building to 43 stories based on community feedback. After additional face-to-face meetings with West Central Association, developers agreed to bring the height down from 43 to 36 stories, Chacon added.
Last fall, Related Midwest and Tucker Development submitted a zoning application to build a 51-story skyscraper with 300 condo units, 220 parking stalls and commercial space. Since the initial plan, developers have made the two height adjustments to get community support.
The chamber issued a letter of support for the project to Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) on June 14.
“It is our opinion that the project meets the West Loop Design Guidelines, and is consistent with the WCA/Metropolitan Planning Council Planning Study recommendations for the area,” the letter states.
“In working with the developer to further reduce the height to a more contextual level, while preserving the many benefits, the WCA firmly believes the benefits this project brings to the community together with its specific use far outweigh the concerns,” Chacon said in the letter.
The initial proposal drew opposition from the Neighbors of the West Loop Development Committee. They cited the building’s height as the group’s primary concern, according to a report by Curbed Chicago last fall.
In a letter, the group said the building would set new height standards for the neighborhood. The group argued that it “would be the tallest (existing or proposed) West Loop structure west of Halsted by a factor of three — to be too tall, with too much density of the area.”
After revisions were presented to the community, Neighbors of the West Loop maintained its opposition to the project. In a letter to the alderman, the group said the 43 story would bring the same proposed density and put the building’s height at “odds with the majority of the building community, including nearby business owners.”
Neighbors of the West Loop President Matt Letourneau said the organization is waiting for an updated proposal for the project before making an assessment on the new plans.
“We haven’t gotten anything official about what their updated proposal is. Until we do, we are not going to change our position on it,” Letourneau said.
Calls to the alderman’s office and Related Midwest were unreturned.
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