RiverWard Expansion Approved: 14 More Townhomes and Longer Riverwalk Planned Along Chicago River

CHICAGO— The RiverWard development along the North Branch of the Chicago River is getting bigger.

The Chicago Plan Commission has approved an expanded second phase of the townhome community at 2235-2259 W. Oakdale Ave., where developer ZSD Corp plans to add 14 more residences on vacant land immediately west of the original project.

The expansion would add more than housing. Plans also call for extending RiverWard's public riverwalk west to North Oakley Avenue, restoring a missing section of Oakley and creating additional public access along the river.

Combined with the 35 townhomes already included in RiverWard's first phase, the expansion would bring the development to 49 residences if final approvals are secured.

What RiverWard Phase 2 Will Add

Designed by SGW Architecture & Design, the roughly $10 million second phase is split between two groups of three-story townhomes.

Five homes would face south toward the Chicago River, continuing the architectural style of the existing RiverWard riverfront residences.

Another nine townhomes would face North Oakley Avenue. Those homes are designed to feel more like traditional single-family residences, with rear yards and detached garages.

The expansion is also expected to include three affordable townhomes.

Architecturally, the two sections will intentionally have different looks.

The riverfront homes will use materials similar to the first phase, including brick, large windows, smooth-panel accents and terraces created by upper-floor cantilevers.

The Oakley Avenue homes will have a more traditional brick exterior with cast-stone surrounds, cornice detailing and patterned masonry, while raised landscaping along Oakley will provide additional greenery and privacy.

The Public Riverwalk Is One of the Most Important Parts

RiverWard Phase 2 at 2235 W. Oakdale SGW Architecture & Design — RiverWard Phase 2 at 2235 W. Oakdale | SGW Architecture & Design

One of the most significant features of RiverWard is not inside the homes.

It is the continued expansion of public access to the Chicago River.

The first phase already includes a public riverwalk along the development's southern edge. Phase 2 would extend that path farther west until it reaches North Oakley Avenue.

The project would also reconstruct and reestablish Oakley Avenue through the site, creating a more complete street and pedestrian connection between the surrounding neighborhood and the river.

That means the redevelopment of what is currently vacant riverfront property would produce both new housing and a longer publicly accessible waterfront path.

This is especially notable because large sections of Chicago's riverfront have historically been occupied by industrial, transportation or private uses with limited public access.

What Happens After Plan Commission Approval?

The project has cleared an important hurdle, but construction is not fully approved yet.

ZSD is seeking to amend the existing Planned Development 1127 and incorporate the additional property into the development. The zoning application covers 2235-2259 W. Oakdale Ave. and 2901-2927 N. Oakley Ave.

The zoning change would move the added site from M1-2 manufacturing zoning to RM-5 residential zoning before incorporating it into the amended planned development.

With Plan Commission approval secured, the proposal can move through the City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards and ultimately to the full City Council for final approval.

If those approvals are completed as expected, current plans call for the approximately $10 million expansion to begin construction in Q3 2026, with completion targeted for Q1 2028.

Why RiverWard Is Worth Watching

RiverWard is an unusual form of new Chicago development.

Instead of another large apartment tower, the project is adding family-sized townhomes along the river, many with private outdoor space, garages and layouts intended to function more like single-family homes.

The first phase already introduced 35 new-construction townhomes, including homes directly overlooking the river. The proposed expansion would fill the remaining vacant land to the west while continuing the riverwalk.

For buyers interested in Roscoe Village, North Center and nearby North Side neighborhoods, projects like RiverWard add another housing option between a traditional detached house and a condo in a larger building.

For surrounding homeowners, the project also changes a previously underused riverfront parcel through new residences, landscaping, reconstructed streets and additional public waterfront access.

The Cory Tanzer Group at Option Premier helps buyers and sellers track new construction, current inventory and neighborhood development across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.

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