River West to Deliver 97 New Luxury Apartments

New construction for a mixed-use residential and commercial building is underway at the northwest corner of the busy Chicago Avenue and Milwaukee Avenue intersection. The 7-story project is scheduled to have the address 1122 W. Chicago Avenue and be completed in 2021. 

Let’s break down what we know about this future hotspot and see how it fits into the rapidly growing River West neighborhood.

Before the wrecking ball was brought out, three separate parcels stood here, including a couple parking lots, a single-story office building and a three-story residential building. Locals may also remember the currency exchange that needed a bit of a facelift.

The facelift never came, but the developers did. Now we have a single wedge-shaped property that will be unique for River West. In addition to 97 luxury apartments, we expect the property will have ground-level commercial space.

Rumor has it this could include a restaurant with sidewalk seating along Chicago Ave. If alfresco dining comes to River West, locals are going to “eat it up!”

Since 2015, every luxury apartment development opened in downtown Chicago has been dog-friendly. With nearly 9 acres of Chicago Park District green and recreation space just a few blocks west at Eckhart Park, it is reasonable to speculate that this will be another pet-friendly/dog-friendly apartment building.

Design and Development Details

These new apartments in River West will be the largest building yet for boutique developer Lipe Property Company, which has a portfolio of primarily low-rise commercial and residential properties, with a mix of new construction and adaptive reuse.

Pappageorge Haymes Partners, the award-winning design firm, is widely recognized for its diversely styled and site-appropriate new constructions and creative adaptive re-use of structures.

Some of their recent new apartment buildings feature industrial-chic exposed concrete, tall ceilings and efficient use of space. The delightful designs at Alta Grand Central, K2, The Hudson, and Reside on Green (formerly Kenect) indicate that these new luxury apartments in Chicago’s River West should bring a cool contemporary upgrade to this corner.

More Space for More People

This development continues an active shift in River West away from older industrial and single-story commercial lots to new mid-rise and high-rise mixed-use buildings. This pattern of change is similar to the West Loop neighborhood just south of this area.

Business growth and industry changes in the immediate and surrounding area has increased demand for new apartments in River West. Renters here are within walking distance or a short commute to jobs at:

• MHub
• Groupon
• Tempus
• TD Ameritrade
• Uptake
• Kendall College
• Mars Food
• MXD USA
• Rush University Medical Center

Since 2016, over 1700 new residential units have been completed or are under construction in River West. This is a significant change for this relatively quiet pocket neighborhood. New River West apartments nearby include Linkt, Spoke, and Avenir.

Luxury apartments at 740 N. Aberdeen are also scheduled to complete construction in 2020.

The trend seen at other new River West Chicago luxury apartments for studios, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedrooms is also expected at 1122 W. Chicago.

In Spring 2020 the Chicago Transit Authority completed an overhaul of the Chicago Avenue Blue Line station. Improvements included street infrastructure changes near the bus stops, offering improved safety and service for the increasing number of commuters.

Abundance of Convenient Commuter Options

Commuters of all stripes will love this location. The CTA Blue Line station and #66 Chicago bus stop are right across the street. Even better, the #56 Milwaukee bus stop will be steps from the building entrance.

Milwaukee Avenue runs along the east side of the building, offering a protected bike lane. As a result, it has become a popular bike route into the city for cycling enthusiasts. For the commuters, I-94 expressway ramps on Ogden and Augusta are only a couple minutes away.

Commuting to the Loop is just two train stops away in 10 minutes. A trip to O’Hare airport is a 36-minute ride on the Blue Line, or a 15-minute drive in light traffic.

A View of the Crossroads and Community

Milwaukee Avenue crosses both Chicago Avenue and Ogden Avenue at this intersection. A CVS Pharmacy and Grocery anchors the six-way junction, along with long-time community favorites Windy City Diner, Big Shoulders Coffee and the very tiny Matchbox bar.

River West itself is pretty quiet. Luckily, and conveniently, it is surrounded by several diversely fun neighborhoods, most with a bit more action.

Ukrainian Village, West Town, Wicker Park, River North, Fulton Market and West Loop are all filled with great restaurants, bars, art galleries, and boutique shops that are all easily accessible within 5 to 15 minutes.

Contact Us

Ready for a new luxury apartment in Chicago’s River West? Reach out to HotSpot Rentals. We’d love to help you find your next great place in this booming neighborhood, or anywhere else in downtown Chicago.