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City leaders reviewed a plan to convert the Morton Salt building near Goose Island into a concert hall and office building. Credit: Chicago Department of Planning and Development / Provided

BUCKTOWN — Neighbors can get more information about new projects along the Chicago River throughout Bucktown, Lincoln Park and Goose Island.

North Branch Works will moderate a panel discussion at 10 a.m. Thursday between developers and real estate leaders involved with Lincoln Yards, the Morton Salt district, Lathrop Homes, Rockwell on the River and 1308 N. Elston Ave.

Register for the webinar here.

Speakers include Sterling Bay’s Fred Krol, R2 Companies’ Zack Cupkovic, Related Midwest’s Sarah Wick, Rockwell on the River’s Jeff DeLong and Baum Realty Group’s Ari Topper.

North Branch Works Executive Director Jonathan Snyder will moderate the panel. Submit your questions ahead of time by calling Steve Simmons at (773) 929-5552 (ext. 2226) or emailing steve@northbranchworks.org.

One of the goals of local advocacy group North Branch Works is to attract and maintain jobs along the North Branch of the Chicago River.

The group recently supported the proposed redevelopment of the Morton Salt factory into a music venue and office building. Snyder, the group’s director, has a seat on the Lincoln Yards Community Advisory Committee, a group advising Sterling Bay and Mayor Lori Lightfoot on the mega-development.

“This is an exciting time in a way that people may not realize just seeing some of the larger buildings they either assume are vacant, or are getting ready for their next use,” Snyder said.

The proposed redevelopment of the Morton Salt building is the latest project to re-envision the North Branch of the Chicago River through Bucktown. 

On the neighborhood’s north end, Drive Shack will replace Vienna Beef Factory, 2501 N. Damen Ave. The $40 million waterfront driving range will include a bar and restaurant as well as a publicly accessible riverwalk. 

Spanning both sides of the river in Lincoln Park and Bucktown, Lincoln Yards’ footprint lies south Webster Street and north of North Avenue. The Morton Salt project is just south of Lincoln Yards.

City Council approved $1.3 billion in subsidies for the 55-acre mixed-use mega-development in 2019. Public funds will be reimbursed to Sterling Bay only after the projects are complete.

RELATED:

Plan To Transform Morton Salt Building Into Riverfront Music Venue, Office Space Gets Early Approval

Lincoln Yards Developer To Focus On New Bridge, Life Science Building In 2021 — But A School Will Likely Take Years

New Riverwalk, More Than 400 New Apartments And More: Lathrop Homes Transformation Begins

Icy Sidewalks Cleared At Redeveloped Part Of Lathrop Homes, But Not The Low-Income Side, Residents Say

‘Wild Mile’ On Track To Bring Wildlife, Kayaking, Waterfall And More To Chicago River’s North Branch, Planners Say

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