Roots & Rafters: South Loop Breaks Ground on 80 New Homes — and a New Sports Bar Just Opened to Cheer It On

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/South Loop · June 3, 2026

The South Loop is building something bigger than just a skyline — it's building community. On April 30, the Southbridge development celebrated a major milestone with the groundbreaking of Phase 1C, a 12-story building set to deliver 80 mixed-income housing units to the neighborhood. With 44 of those units designated as affordable for households earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income, and 29 reserved for Chicago Housing Authority households with a right of return, this isn't just construction — it's a genuine investment in the people who call the Sloop home.

Mayor Brandon Johnson was on hand for the celebration, envisioning the South Loop as "a true live, work and play community — one that people don't just pass through but plant roots in." Designed by Gensler and developed by The Community Builders, Southbridge sits right at the Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line stop, with Phase 1C expected to wrap up in June 2027. When fully built out, the master-planned Southbridge will boast more than 800 mixed-income units and 65,000 square feet of commercial and community space.

And when those new neighbors move in, they'll have no shortage of places to gather. The South Loop recently welcomed Pressbox, a lively new sports bar and dining destination that's already turning heads — think game-day energy, loaded menus, and wall-to-wall screens. The Sloop keeps delivering. Are you following the Southbridge build or have you already checked out Pressbox? Tell us what's exciting you most about the neighborhood right now in the Socialhood community!

Sources:
1. https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2026/04/27/harold-ickes-homes-complex-south-loop-southbridge-80-apartments
2. https://chicago.urbanize.city/neighborhood/south-loop
3. https://www.theinfatuation.com/chicago/guides/new-chicago-restaurant-openings