Chicago’s City Council is moving forward on several major redevelopment projects, including the conversion of vacant Loop office towers into residential buildings and a new slate of housing and youth programs on the city’s West Side.
According to the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development, the landmark Field Building at 135 South LaSalle will be converted into 386 apartments as part of a $241.6 million redevelopment plan. The proposal includes a grocer, medical offices, and a community health center on the ground floor. Thirty percent of the units will be set aside as affordable, with the city proposing $98 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to support the project.
A second downtown proposal would convert the Clark Adams Building at 105 West Adams into 400 housing units. Developer Primera Group estimates a $183.5 million budget, with the city recommending $67 million in TIF assistance. As with LaSalle, 30 percent of units would be priced below market rate.
“These are the kinds of projects we want to see—developments that bring life back into the downtown core, while offering housing that people can actually afford,” said Planning Commissioner Ciere Boatright during the July council briefing.
The City is also backing new community investments outside the Loop. A 36,000-square-foot teen center led by After School Matters will be built on Orleans Street in the former St. Joseph’s School. The facility will focus on STEM and culinary training for young people, with $5 million in TIF allocated for development.
In North Lawndale, a new “missing middle” housing initiative will develop eight vacant city-owned lots into 3- and 4-unit homes for sale. Each unit will receive $150,000 in city development assistance to promote affordability and local ownership. Groundbreaking is expected this summer, according to the city.
Though TIF has drawn criticism in the past, this round of funding appears focused on affordability and reinvestment in vacant space. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that downtown office vacancy rates have surpassed 25 percent, prompting urgency around adaptive reuse strategies that prioritize residential growth and neighborhood connection.
As final approvals near, city officials say these projects reflect a broader goal: balancing economic development with equitable access to housing and community resources.