WEST LOOP — Nearly 1,500 additional apartments could be coming to the booming Fulton Market neighborhood.
New York-based developer Vista Properties wants to build three mixed-used buildings at 370 N. Morgan St., 400 N. Morgan St. and 401 N. Morgan St. The buildings would include 492, 478 and 480 rental apartments respectively, with a mix of studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, said zoning attorney Katie Jahnke Dale.
The project is subject to the city’s Affordable Rental Ordinance, meaning the developer is required to dedicate at least 20 percent of its apartments as affordable, or about 290 units.
The buildings would be at the intersection of Morgan and Kinzie streets, which currently houses surface lots and one- and two-level industrial buildings.
The developer is seeking approval to allow residential development within the Kinzie Corridor Overlay District bounded by Ogden Avenue, Carroll Avenue, Hubbard Street, Halsted and Wayman streets.
Construction would take place in two phases, the first including the buildings at 370 and 400 N. Morgan St. Phase two would include 401 N. Morgan St.
Here’s a breakdown of specifics by building:
370 N. Morgan St.
- 394 market-rate apartments
- 98 affordable apartments
- 142 parking spaces
- 399 feet tall with 34 stories
- 10,000 square footage of retail on the first floor
400 N. Morgan St.
- 383 market-rate apartments
- 95 affordable apartments
- 123 parking spaces
- 450 feet tall with 41 stories
- 4,800 square footage of retail space on the first floor
401 N. Morgan St.
- 384 market-rate apartments
- 96 affordable apartments
- The number of parking spaces hasn’t been determined yet
- 475 feet tall with 45 stories
- The amount of retail space hasn’t been determined yet
Developers said they don’t have a total project cost yet.
Parking spaces could serve both residential and commercial uses, the developers said. The project would also preserve most existing street parking.
Green spaces built throughout the sites would be open to the public. To make it more pedestrian friendly, the project would also reduce the number of curb cut-outs — a dip in the sidewalk to allow a car to pass through — from eight to four.
During a community meeting Monday night hosted by the Neighbors of River West and the West Central Association, the developers pitched the latest draft of their proposal to neighbors. The plan received a fairly positive reception.
A few neighbors said they were concerned by the ratio of parking spots to apartments and worried the project could worsen parking problems in the area.
Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) shared similar concerns and said he would like to see the number of parking spaces increased.
Jahnke Dale said the developers are fairly confident in their estimation of how many parking spots the buildings would need. The assumption is enough residents won’t have a car and won’t need to find a space elsewhere to park if they can’t get one inside the building, she said.
“It’s very transit-served,” she said of the area.
Burnett said in addition to increased parking, he’d also like to see more than the required 20 percent of affordable apartments included in the project.
After more community input, the project proposal will eventually go through the city’s Plan Commission, Zoning Committee and then the full City Council for votes. Developers said they anticipate having the proposal before the Plan Commission later this summer.
If anyone wasn’t able to attend Monday’s meeting but would like to share their input on the project, they can reach out to Burnett’s office at walter.burnett@cityofchicago.org.
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