West Loop Development Plan Shifts Focus to Condos and Park Amenities Near Mary Bartelme Park

Building with people walking — Previous design for 23 S. Sangamon, which included a community center.
Photo Rendering Credit to: Eckenhoff Saunders

A long-vacant site in the West Loop is moving closer to redevelopment, but with a noticeably different vision than what was previously proposed. Updated plans for 23 S. Sangamon Street now call for a 70-unit condo building, replacing an earlier proposal that included a large community center.

The site, located just steps from Mary Bartelme Park, has gone through multiple iterations over the years. Earlier proposals included an 80-unit condo building approved in 2021, followed by a much larger 283-unit mixed-income apartment development that featured a multi-level community center and field house.

That earlier version would have delivered nearly 30,000 square feet of community space, including programming areas and recreational facilities. However, after more than a year of community discussions, the plan has been scaled back significantly.

Local officials say the removal of the community center was largely driven by neighborhood concerns.

Instead of a high-traffic facility, the revised proposal focuses on what residents consistently asked for: public restrooms and dedicated storage for the park.

“While a field house will not move forward as part of this proposal, we are pleased discussions have continued toward a dedicated public restroom for Mary Bartelme Park,” said Chicago Park District spokesperson Michele Lemons.

The plan now includes four public restrooms with direct sidewalk access, ensuring they remain open during park hours regardless of adjacent business operations. These facilities will sit next to a new café space facing the park, creating a more integrated, everyday-use amenity rather than a large destination facility.

In addition, the project will provide on-site storage for park equipment, replacing the current setup where materials are stored off-site on the Southeast Side. This change is expected to directly support local programming, from community events to seasonal activities.

“Access to these amenities will help our nonprofit save money on storage and community event expenses,” said members of the Mary Bartelme Park Advisory Council. “This gives the park flexibility to improve and expand our programming.”

The residential component has also been reworked. The new proposal calls for a 70-unit luxury condo building, down from the previously planned 283 apartments. The building will rise to approximately 290 feet, lower than earlier concepts, and will focus on larger three- and four-bedroom units aimed at attracting families, a relatively rare offering in the West Loop.

“I think it’s a win for the community,” said Ald. Bill Conway. “I think it’s a win for parkgoers, and I think it will work out well for the developer, as well.”

The development team, led by Fern Hill Company and Free Market Ventures, will also be required to include 14 affordable housing units, partially in partnership with a local housing group.

The site itself has been a focal point of discussion for years, especially as the West Loop continues to see rapid growth. With limited vacant land remaining, projects like this often face intense scrutiny from residents balancing development with quality of life.

Summary

For those following West Loop Chicago real estate trends, this proposal highlights how community input is increasingly shaping outcomes. Rather than maximizing density, the revised plan prioritizes targeted amenities, lower density and family-oriented housing, reflecting evolving neighborhood priorities.

The project will now move through the city’s approval process, including review by the Department of Planning and Development, the Plan Commission and City Council.

If approved, the development could finally activate one of the West Loop’s most visible vacant sites while delivering improvements that directly benefit one of its most heavily used parks.

Stay Connected

Ranked among the top 1% of real estate teams in the Chicagoland market, Cory Tanzer and the Cory Tanzer Group are experts in helping buyers and sellers navigate today’s market across Downtown Chicago, the North Shore, and the Western Suburbs. Recognized for their neighborhood expertise in areas such as University Village, University Commons, South Loop, and Pilsen, the team helps clients stay one step ahead by understanding where the Chicago market is headed next.