The massive $1 billion redevelopment of the historic Union Station has been reworked following the release of the initial proposal. The plans had included a seven-story apartment complex atop the landmarked Beaux Arts building which is no longer part of the proposal.
The new plan now calls for a single-story addition to the station’s historic 1925 headhouse building – to which the upper levels will house two hotels with 400 guests suites and an office space for Amtrak as well. The penthouse level will aim to blend seamlessly into the building’s existing architecture and will not be seen from street level.
The original rendering
To absorb the expected increase in traffic around the hotel at Union Station, the traffic management plan will work to reduce the drop offs on Adams. A hotel entrance will be added on the Jackson Street, retail space on Clinton and the valet will be relocated to the interior of the building.
The second phase of redevelopment will take aim at Amtrak’s parking lot structure just south of the transit center. The area there will be made into a brand new 50-story, 715 foot tall office tower. Designed by Chicago’s Goettsch Partners, the tower will feature a sleek, glassy facade with a 3 setback and angled columns at the base. This phase will also feature a 1.5-acre park and plaza open to the public.
Though it has yet to go through the entire approval process, the new reimagined plan is striking better public endorsement. Located in the West Loop neighborhood, this project will help with traffic and add new construction to the booming area. The bustling travel hub will become more accessible and add a modern asset to the charming history already preserved there.
Pushing over a year a half of negotiations, developer John O’Donnell is ready to move forward with a massive redevelopment of Chicago travel hub, Union Station, which is also home to Amtrak, and the adjacent bus facility. Additionally, O’Donnell Riverside Development and Investment will present plans for a proposed tower atop the station. The plans feature 330 hotel rooms and 404 residential units above the historic building. The property adjacent to the station, currently a parking garage and bus facility, will soon be home to a new office tower as well.
As $1 billion plus worth of new construction is going to be put into the new project, residents and workers nearby can expect to see a huge shift in the dynamic of the bustling neighborhood. Located at the edge of West Loop and the Loop, the location is central for businesses and residential developments.
Along with new luxury residential units and office space, the plan will include the addition of new, more efficient train lines beneath the building. Union Station is about to get everything, and then some, to make it the ideal travel, work and living space for Chicagoans.
With the developer aiming for a comfortable and inviting space, it is proposed that outward-facing retail will add that to the 3.1 million square foot redevelopment. Planned to be completed within six years, this project is incredibly exciting for the Chicago downtown market.
