Green Brick Residential Development Moves Forward in West Loop

Another residential project is moving ahead in the West Loop as the area continues to see steady development growth.

The Chicago Committee on Zoning has approved plans for a new 66-unit residential building at 1201 West Kinzie Street, located at the corner of Kinzie and Racine near the Metra tracks.

The proposal is being led by LG Group, working alongside local architecture firm Dirk Denison Architects.

A Different Look for the West Loop

Rendering of 1201 W Kinzie St by Dirk Denison Architects

Unlike many of the glass-heavy towers rising nearby, this project takes a lower-rise approach.

The five-story structure will feature a distinctive exterior clad primarily in dark green glazed brick, accented with bronze metal panels. The design also includes four inset landscaped terraces, helping soften the building’s long linear shape while adding greenery to an area that is still heavily industrial in parts.

That design choice stands out in a neighborhood increasingly dominated by larger high-rises and modern curtain-wall buildings.

Inside the Development

Green Brick West Loop — Materials of 1201 W Kinzie St by Dirk Denison Architects

Plans call for:

66 residential units
Studio, one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom layouts
Ground-floor lobby and amenity spaces
A 14-car rear parking garage
Rooftop deck with skyline views

The building’s larger unit mix is notable, especially in a part of the city where many new developments lean heavily toward smaller apartments.

According to the proposal, 15 percent of the units will be designated as affordable housing, a tradeoff tied to the inclusion of more family-sized layouts.

Positioned Near Transit and Growth

The project will rise on the eastern edge of a larger vacant lot directly adjacent to Metra tracks, placing it near several rapidly developing pockets of the West Loop and Fulton Market area.

Over the past few years, the surrounding neighborhoods have continued expanding westward, with residential demand pushing into formerly underutilized industrial sites and parking lots.

This project reflects that continued shift, but on a more neighborhood-scaled level compared to the larger towers nearby.

What Happens Next

With zoning approval secured, the proposal now heads to City Council before developers can move into the permitting phase.

The development team is targeting a groundbreaking by the end of the year, with a projected completion timeline in 2028.

The estimated project cost is around $25 million.

Why This Project Stands Out

What makes this proposal interesting isn’t just the location, it’s the design direction.

At a time when many new residential buildings in the West Loop are getting taller and more glass-heavy, this project leans into texture, greenery and a lower-profile form. It feels more residential in scale while still adding meaningful density to the neighborhood.

And with larger unit layouts, landscaped terraces and rooftop space, the development appears to be targeting longer-term residents rather than purely short-term renters.

As the West Loop continues evolving, projects like this show there’s still room for smaller-scale developments that approach growth a little differently.

More to Explore: Chicago Common Construction Moves Forward on Two West Loop Residential Buildings

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