$7 Billion 1901 Project Breaks Ground Around the United Center on Chicago’s Near West Side

CHICAGO — One of the biggest redevelopment projects in Chicago is officially underway. The 1901 Project, a $7 billion transformation of the area surrounding the United Center, broke ground on Wednesday, setting the stage for a long-term overhaul of more than 55 acres of parking lots on the Near West Side.

The project, led by the families behind the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks, aims to turn the land around the arena into a mixed-use district with housing, hotels, restaurants, retail, entertainment venues, parks, and public spaces. Officials have described it as the largest private investment ever planned for Chicago’s West Side.

What Is the 1901 Project?

The 1901 Project is a massive redevelopment plan for the land surrounding the United Center, home of the Bulls and Blackhawks.

Instead of remaining a sea of surface parking lots, the area is expected to become a more active neighborhood district with places to live, eat, gather, and spend time before and after games and concerts.

The full vision includes approximately:

9,463 to 9,500 housing units
About 1,900 affordable units
1,309 hotel rooms
A 6,000-seat music hall
Retail and restaurant space
Park space and public plazas
New parking structures
Improved pedestrian and bike connections

The overall buildout is expected to happen in phases over more than a decade, with full completion projected around 2040.

Phase One Will Bring a Music Hall, Hotel, Retail, and Parking

The first phase is the piece now moving forward.

According to project details, Phase One will include a 6,000-seat music hall, a 233-room hotel, retail and restaurant space, and two new parking structures. This phase is expected to be completed in spring 2028.

Renderings show the music hall near Damen Avenue and Adams Street, with a modern venue design and nearby lawn space. Plans for the parking structures also include public-facing elements, including green space and recreation areas.

A New Kind of District Around the United Center

The goal is not simply to build an entertainment district for game days.

At the groundbreaking, Bulls President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf said, “We didn’t want to create just an entertainment district, we wanted to add to the neighborhood that already exists here.”

That distinction matters. The United Center has long drawn major crowds for games and concerts, but the surrounding area has remained dominated by parking lots. The 1901 Project is designed to create more daily activity, not just event-night traffic.

That could mean more restaurants, more residents, more hotel guests, and more public spaces that serve the broader Near West Side.

Affordable Housing Will Be Part of the Plan

Housing is one of the biggest pieces of the overall project.

The development is expected to include nearly 10,000 residential units, with 20 percent dedicated to affordable housing. That equals roughly 1,893 affordable units across the full buildout.

For a project of this scale, the housing component could significantly change the residential landscape around the United Center, especially as nearby areas like the West Loop, United Center Park, Tri-Taylor, Little Italy, and the Illinois Medical District continue attracting buyer and renter interest.

Transportation and Street Improvements Are Also Planned

The redevelopment is also expected to bring infrastructure changes.

A traffic study included recommendations such as protected bike lanes along parts of Damen Avenue, Adams Street, and Warren Boulevard, along with raised intersections and curb extensions at select nearby intersections.

The larger vision has also referenced a new CTA Pink Line station to improve transit access around the United Center.

For a district expected to bring thousands of new residents, hotel guests, visitors, and workers, transportation improvements will be a key part of whether the project feels connected to the rest of the city.

Why This Matters for the Near West Side

The 1901 Project could become one of the most important neighborhood-shaping developments in Chicago over the next decade.

For years, the blocks around the United Center have held enormous potential because of their location near downtown, transit, major institutions, hospitals, and some of the city’s most active neighborhoods. But surface parking has limited how much life the area has outside of events.

If the project succeeds, it could bring more walkability, more housing options, more dining, more entertainment, and stronger connections between the Near West Side, West Loop, and surrounding communities.

Looking to Buy Near the United Center and Near West Side Growth?

Browse available condos and homes near the United Center, West Loop, Tri-Taylor, Little Italy, and the Illinois Medical District, or connect with the Cory Tanzer Group at Option Premier for expert guidance on Chicago neighborhoods positioned near major development, transit, and long-term growth opportunities.

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