433 New Apartments Slated for 1201 W Fulton Market

A new development is on the horizon for a slice of West Loop’s Fulton River District. A brand-new luxury apartment building – at 1201 W. Fulton Market – will be the first residential development in this area in over 10 years.

It’s been a long time coming, and I can’t wait to watch this project come to life. 

A Decade Without Development

Designated as a Chicago landmark in 2015, the Fulton Market District has balanced preserving its historic roots and modern development in admirable fashion.

Historically known as a meat-packing and warehouse district, the Fulton Market District has been transformed into a hopping urban neighborhood. But for the past decade, creating new residential housing in the area was a challenge. The reason? In a large section of the neighborhood, roughly bound from Lake to Carroll Streets, in between Ogden Avenue and I-90,new residential building wasn’t permitted. 

But in 2020, 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett lifted the ban on apartment development, citing the revised Fulton Market Innovation District master plan. Without skipping a beat, developers applied for a zoning change at 1201 W. Fulton Market. As of the Spring of 2021, the plan is to rezone the site from industrial to downtown mixed-use. 

While this will be a big change for the area – and it still faces approval hurdles with the city and neighborhood associations – multiple local news reports confirm the likelihood that the project will move forward. 

Not only do I expect to soon see a green light for these new apartments, but additional residential developments in Fulton Market too. It will be exciting to see this dynamic district usher in a new era of residential revitalization; a continuation of the amazing changes we’ve seen throughout the entire West Loop in recent years.

A West Loop Developer Takes on the Project

Spearheading this project is Fulton Street Companies, a developer based right in the neighborhood. The firm aims to acquire and develop properties that add to the unique historic qualities of Fulton Market. So far, they have focused on adaptive re-use and new commercial properties in Fulton Market. In fact, this project will be the firm’s first foray into residential new construction.

Fulton Street Companies, along with Harrison Street Real Estate Capital, purchased the building that currently sits on the property for $20 million. The existing single-story, 36,730-square-foot building is home to event space Revel Fulton Market. 

The talented folks at Morris Adjmi Architects have designed the plans for the 381-foot mixed-use tower. The firm is based in New York, but does have experience working on West Loop projects. They’ve partnered with Fulton Street Companies in the past; designing an office development in Fulton Market. They’re also working on another luxury apartment complex planned for 906 W Randolph and are the architects behind the super stylish Landmark West Loop luxury apartments. 

Design Details for 1201 W. Fulton Market

While renderings were recently released in March, it’s still a bit early to be certain about the very specific details for these new apartments. The Fulton Market community will have a chance to give feedback, and they’re known for being quite vocal and having strong sway over West Loop developments. So, expect to see adjustments as the community weighs in. 

A Brand-New Building in West Loop’s Fulton Market

Let’s take a peek at what the plans look like for now. The renderings show a 32-story tower, attached to a smaller 6-story side structure, with a large courtyard between the two. There’s a sculpture resembling a giant cute red teddy bear, but I’m assuming that is dedicated space for public art of some sort. We dig Chicago’s love of public art!

Facing Fulton Market Street, the 13,100 square feet of ground-floor retail is glass and aluminum on the first two levels. The next four levels of the 6-story structure are made of brick, and it is topped off with a landscaped roof terrace with trees. I tip my hat to any efforts made to incorporate trees within a concrete garden.

The high-rise tower is set back behind the smaller structure, with the residential entrance through Racine Avenue. A new sidewalk and planted trees will line both the retail side along Fulton Market and residential side along Racine.

The exterior elevations are adorned with dark gray metal cladding, diagonally crossed panels, and warehouse-style glass walls with square windows. The high-rise will house 433 luxury apartments, including a mix of studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units. 

What Residents Can Look Forward To

The plans call for 84 parking spaces and likely there will be bicycle storage too. There appears to be a second rooftop deck at the top of the residential tower. Extensive amenities are standard for new luxury high-rise apartments in the West Loop, so I anticipate that 1201 W. Fulton Market will keep up with the Joneses. 

I would bet a bundle that the apartment building will have impressive common areas. Since this area is flourishing with tech, science, and medical industries, a state-of-the-art coworking space would be a no-brainer.  A fitness center, outdoor sun deck with grilling stations, as well as a dog run and wash station would also be expected.

Luxury finishes will likely be found inside each unit too. Plank wood flooring, stone countertops, sleek modern appliances and in-unit washer and dryer should all be on the developer’s check-list. There does not appear to be balconies in the illustrations, but the two outdoor roof decks should offer residents plenty of sunshine and fresh-air at home.

If the interior designs for units are anything like what Morris Adjmi Architects did at Landmark West Loop, then these new apartments at 1201 W. Fulton Market will set a high watermark for new residential developments coming to Fulton Market in the coming years.

Easy Living in West Loop’s Fulton Market Neighborhood

The Best Neighborhood for West Loop Workers and Commuters

Commuting to Chicago’s downtown business district is easy from the West Loop. That’s especially true for the Fulton Market district. The CTA Green/Pink elevated trains run straight through the neighborhood along Lake Street. There are also so many major corporate offices in the West Loop and Fulton Market that lots of folks can just walk to work. For these reasons and more, West Loop has become one of the most popular neighborhoods in Chicago.

This area is also adjacent to the Illinois Medical District, and it’s 4 major hospitals. In particular, Rush University Medical Center is ranked #17 in the nation and #2 in Chicago (U.S. News & World Report 2021), second only to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Commuting to Rush and the Illinois Medical District is less than a 10-minute drive south. Or, you can get there on the CTA Pink Line train.

Never a Dull Moment in the West Loop

The West Loop is popular for its many boutique shops, coffee shops, and nightlife. Foodies flock to the famed “Restaurant Row” along Randolph Street, and also explore great grub on Fulton Market and Lake streets. These new West Loop apartments would be within walking distance to dozens of celebrated restaurants and bars throughout the neighborhood. 

Bulls and Blackhawks fans can walk to the United Center to watch basketball or hockey. You can also cheer on Whitney Young High School teams at the new Michelle Obama Athletic Complex. The $4.3 million facility is also open to community residents and is conveniently located adjacent to Skinner Park.

This pet-friendly apartment in Chicago’s Fulton Market would also be just a few blocks away from the historic Union Park. With over 13 acres of grass fields surrounded by beautiful tall trees, this public park has been an oasis of nature and recreation since 1853. Facilities include a gymnasium, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, soccer/football field, basketball courts, playground and a swimming pool. 

The park is also well-known for its cultural and social events. From jazz concerts to the Pitchfork Music Festival and Night Out in the Parks concerts, locals know there is always something fun going on here.

What’s Nearby 1201 W. Fulton Market Apartments

Work and Offices Nearby

• Google Fulton Market
• Fulton Labs
• Illinois Medical District – Rush, UIC, Stroger and Brown VA hospitals
• McDonald’s HQ & Global Menu Restaurant
• Chicago Sun-Times
• ShipBob Chicago HQ
• Portal Innovations
• Minimal Inc. MNML Design Solutions
• Blue Plate Catering
• Lakeshore Beverage
• Field Notes HQ
• Mondelēz International Global HQ
• COMING SOON – TikTok Chicago office – pending lease deal in Fulton Market

Fulton Market Groceries and Conveniences

• Walgreens Pharmacy
• Dispensary 33
• Foxtrot Market
• Jewel-Osco
• West Loop Market
• Whole Foods Market

Favorite Restaurants and Bars a Walk Away

• Rêve Burger
• Riccardo Osteria
• Next Restaurant
• Smyth + Loyalist
• Gaijin
• Federales
• The Aviary
• Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea
• Heritage Bikes and Coffee
• Do-Rite Donuts & Chicken

Public Parks in West Loop

• Union Park
• Skinner Park
• Mary Bartelme Park

Transportation Near Fulton Market

• CTA Green and Pink Line trains:  Ashland Station and Morgan Station
• CTA bus routes:  #9 Ashland, #20 Madison, #66 Grand
• Metra Trains: Ogilvie Transportation Center
• Expressways:  I-290 and I-90 

If you’re looking for an apartment in the West Loop neighborhood, give HotSpot Rentals a buzz. Our expert leasing agents consistently get 5-star reviews for helping folks find their perfect place, and we would love to help you too!