Over 300 Apartments Approved for Fast-Growing West Loop After City Council Vote

WEST LOOP—City Council approved two new residential projects Wednesday that will bring nearly 400 additional apartments to the neighborhood, adding to the thousands of units already delivered across the area in recent years.

The approvals mark one of the first major zoning waves to move forward after the City Council’s Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards resumed regular activity following a months-long pause tied to leadership changes after former chair Walter Burnett retired.

With zoning activity back underway, the West Loop once again found itself at the center of Chicago’s development conversation.

32-Story Tower Approved at 1338 W. Lake

The larger of the two projects comes from CEDARst Companies, which received approval for a 32-story apartment tower at 1338 W. Lake Street.

The updated proposal includes:

321 residential units
164 parking spaces
65 affordable apartments
A taller, denser design than originally proposed

Earlier plans submitted in 2023 called for a 28-story tower with 271 apartments. But after discussions with the city’s Department of Planning and Development and local officials, the project returned with increased density in exchange for a broader mix of unit types.

The affordable housing breakdown includes:

25 studio units
15 one-bedroom units
24 two-bedroom units
One three-bedroom apartment

That mix is notable because larger affordable units remain relatively limited in many new downtown-area developments.

To move forward, the project required a DX-10 upzoning, allowing for greater height and density on the site.

66-Unit Development Approved at 1201 W. Kinzie

A second project at 1201 W. Kinzie Street also secured approval.

Led by LG Development, the proposal calls for a five-story building with 66 apartments near the intersection of Kinzie and Racine.

The project qualifies as a transit-oriented development (TOD) and will include just 14 parking spaces, significantly less than a traditional residential building of similar size.

Some nearby residents previously raised concerns over the limited parking count, but local Ald. Walter Redmond Burnett defended the approach during zoning discussions.

Burnett argued that parking was not “as much of a concern” due to the site’s proximity to transit and what he described as changing transportation habits and lower car dependency among residents.

The development sits close to multiple transit options and reflects the city’s continued push toward denser, transit-connected housing in high-growth neighborhoods.

The West Loop’s Growth Shows No Signs of Slowing

These two projects are just the latest additions to a neighborhood that has seen massive transformation over the past decade.

The West Loop has added:

More than 6,000 residential units in recent years
Thousands of square feet of office and commercial space
New restaurants, hotels and mixed-use developments

What was once primarily an industrial corridor has evolved into one of Chicago’s most active residential and business districts.

And even as construction activity remains elevated, developers continue targeting the neighborhood because of strong demand, transit access and proximity to downtown employment centers.

More to Explore: Construction Begins on Oxxford Lofts in the West Loop

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