History Restored & The Riverfront Rising: South Loop's Second Presbyterian Church Shines Again While Riverline Climbs Toward the Sky

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/South Loop · July 13, 2026

The South Loop is serving up a double dose of good news this week — one story rooted in 133 years of history, the other pointing straight toward the future.

First, the landmark moment: a 133-year-old stained-glass window has been reinstalled inside the historic Second Presbyterian Church of Chicago in the South Loop. The congregation and its preservation team have been working to restore and protect this architectural treasure, and the milestone is being celebrated as a major victory for the neighborhood's historic fabric. For Sloop residents who walk past the Romanesque Revival church on Michigan Avenue, this is a reminder that the neighborhood's past is just as worth protecting as its future is worth building.

And speaking of building — construction is well underway on 1010 S. Wells at Riverline, the ambitious 21-story mixed-use development rising along the South Branch of the Chicago River. With $83 million in financing secured and a tower crane already on site, the CMK Companies project — designed by Gensler — will deliver 386 apartments, ground-floor retail, and a public riverwalk that could one day connect Harrison Street all the way south to Ping Tom Park in Chinatown. That's not just a building; it's a new chapter for the South Loop waterfront.

From century-old stained glass to a gleaming riverside tower, the Sloop continues to prove it honors its roots while boldly reaching upward. Have you seen the restored church windows, or been watching Riverline rise along the river? Share your Sloop sightings with the Socialhood community!

Sources:
1. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/tag/south-loop/
2. https://www.fox32chicago.com/tag/us/il/cook-county/chicago/south-loop
3. https://chicago.urbanize.city/neighborhood/south-loop
4. http://www.sloopin.com/