New Westhaven Park Station Celebrates Grand Opening on Near West Side, Featuring Local Black-Owned Businesses

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Near West Side · November 22, 2025

The Near West Side celebrated a major milestone this week with the grand opening of Westhaven Park Station, a mixed-income residential development at 145 N. Damen Avenue. City officials and developers held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday for the 12-story building that features 96 apartments, including 38 CHA units, 25 affordable units, and 33 market-rate homes.

The development plans to enhance community commerce by leasing its ground-floor commercial spaces exclusively to local, Black-owned businesses, with a barbecue restaurant already signing a letter of intent as the building's first retail tenant. Residents will enjoy amenities including a fitness center, community room, outdoor terrace, indoor bike storage, and an on-site management office. The project's strategic location directly across from the new CTA Green Line station creates what Greg Olson, regional vice president at Michaels, called "a game changer for the neighborhood, reversing decades of transit neglect."

Newly installed 27th Ward Alderman Walter Redmond Burnett praised the development as "a testament of what the best of the city can be," highlighting the importance of affordable housing with convenient transit access. City leaders noted that Westhaven Park Station transforms what was once a site of neglect into a symbol of renewal for the Near West Side community. Residents interested in learning more about future retail opportunities or community events at the development can contact the West Central Association for upcoming information sessions.

Sources:
1. https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2025/11/20/cha-brinshore-michaels-henry-horner-homes-westhaven-park-station
2. https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-housing-westhaven-park-station-opens-west-side-replaces-former-henry-horner-homes-cta-green-line/18176789/