WEST LOOP — Developer Thor Equities will present plans for a new 19-story office tower on a block-long property next to the Fulton Market gateway at a meeting next week.
The New York-based developer aims to convert the block bound by Fulton, Green, Halsted and Wayman streets into a 19-story mixed-use office and commercial building. The West Loop Community Organization and Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) will host the meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 12 on the third floor of Catalyst Ranch, 656 W. Randolph St.
Carla Agostinelli, executive director of the West Loop Community Organization, said the developer is seeking a zoning change.
Plans for the building were first announced in October.
At the time, Agostinelli expressed concerns that streets and other infrastructure near the site needs to be redesigned or upgraded before more density is added to the area.
Despite recent work to the streetscape on Fulton, the existing development on the street between Halsted and Peoria has created traffic congestion and safety concerns, Agostinelli said.
“It’s great to see Fulton Street developed because we want to see economic development …but the infrastructure cannot support what is currently on the street, let alone a developer proposing a 19-story building that will bring in thousands of more people to an already congested area,” Agostinelli said in October.
Since the initial proposal was presented to the West Loop Community Organization, Agostinelli said the group has not had a second meeting with developers and is waiting to see what solutions are presented to address concerns before making a formal recommendation on the project.
Thor Equities owns the entire block — including the Mid nightclub building at 306 N. Halsted St., the former Isaacson & Stein Fish buildings at 800-810 W. Fulton St. and several other properties owned by meatpacker Morreale Meat, according to Crain’s.
Sterling Bay also is developing a 19-story office building on the old Coyne College parking lot just north of Thor’s block-long site.
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