History Meets Hospitality: A 114-Year-Old Near West Side Bank Is Becoming a Hotel — And Your New CTA Station Is Taking Shape
By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Near West Side ·
Near West Side neighbors, your neighborhood just handed August a one-two punch of seriously exciting news — and both stories are the kind that remind you why living here feels like being at the center of everything Chicago is becoming.
First, a piece of local history is getting a stunning second act. A renovation permit was issued on August 1st to transform the former Mid-City Trust & Savings Bank building at 801 West Madison Street into a brand-new hotel. Built in 1912, this architectural gem has been a landmark on Madison Street for over a century — and now, rather than sitting idle, it's about to welcome guests from around the world while preserving the neighborhood's storied past. A historic bank reimagined as a boutique hotel on one of the Near West Side's most iconic stretches? That's the kind of adaptive reuse that makes a neighborhood's character deepen, not disappear.
And if that's not enough reason to look up, the outer shell of the new Racine Blue Line CTA station is actively taking shape right here on the Near West Side — tucked between the inbound and outbound lanes of the Eisenhower Expressway. Better transit connectivity is coming, and it's going to make this already well-positioned neighborhood even easier to navigate for residents and visitors alike. From a century-old bank finding new life to a brand-new transit hub rising from the expressway median, the Near West Side is building its future on a remarkable foundation. Follow Socialhood for all the latest updates as both projects move forward!
Sources:
1. https://www.chicagobuildexpo.com/industry-news
2. https://chicago.urbanize.city/neighborhood/near-west-side