West Loop's Skyline Just Got Two Big Green Lights: A New Condo High-Rise Is Coming to Sangamon, and a 1929 Landmark Scores Historic Protections
By Socialhood News · West Loop ·
West Loop neighbors, the week of August 18–23 delivered not one but two significant milestones for your neighborhood's built environment — one that will reshape a stretch of Sangamon Street with brand-new condominiums, and another that locks in permanent protections for one of the most storied buildings on the edge of your backyard.
First, the bigger headline: a high-rise condominium project at 23 South Sangamon Street has just cleared a critical hurdle. The Chicago Plan Commission approved the revised development — now officially branded Marielle On The Park — on or just before August 23, 2026. The approval marks a meaningful pivot for the site: the project, led by local developer Fern Hill, has shifted away from its previous iteration as a 33-story apartment building and will now rise 24 stories as a condominium building. New renderings for the project were unveiled by architect Eckenhoff Saunders alongside the commission's approval, giving neighbors their clearest look yet at what's coming to that Sangamon Street address.
The redesign from apartments to condos is notable in a neighborhood that has seen tower after tower of rental product come online over the past several years. Ownership product — especially in a high-rise format — has been comparatively rare in the Fulton Market and West Loop corridors, meaning Marielle On The Park will occupy a distinct niche in the neighborhood's housing mix. With Plan Commission approval now in hand, the project will next advance through the City Council approval process before construction can begin. Fern Hill and Eckenhoff Saunders have not yet publicly announced a unit count, pricing, or a construction timeline, but the commission's green light this week puts the project firmly on track.
Just two days earlier, on August 19, another significant vote shaped the West Loop's built environment — this one focused on preservation rather than new construction. The Chicago City Council approved both a landmark designation and a Class L property tax incentive for the Chicago Daily News Building at 2 North Riverside Plaza, located at the western edge of the West Loop Gate sub-area. Built in 1929, the building is a celebrated example of early 20th-century commercial architecture and has long been considered one of the most architecturally significant structures in the corridor. The Class L designation is a City of Chicago tool specifically designed to incentivize the rehabilitation of landmark-caliber historic buildings by offering a reduced property tax assessment for a set period — making it a meaningful financial lever for whoever undertakes the building's next chapter.
Together, these two approvals paint a picture of a neighborhood managing two simultaneous — and sometimes competing — forces: the relentless pressure to build new and build tall, and the equally important work of protecting the architectural heritage that gives West Loop its distinctive character. The Marielle On The Park approval adds another residential option for buyers who want ownership in one of Chicago's most sought-after zip codes. The Chicago Daily News Building vote ensures that a 97-year-old civic and architectural treasure won't be left to deteriorate while the neighborhood booms around it.
For residents curious about Marielle On The Park, the project's address at 23 South Sangamon Street sits squarely in the heart of the West Loop, convenient to the CTA Green and Pink Lines at Morgan Station just two blocks away. Given that Plan Commission approval was just granted, sales and leasing information is not yet publicly available — but Fern Hill and Eckenhoff Saunders are the names to watch for future announcements. And for those who love the history embedded in the neighborhood's older structures, the Chicago Daily News Building's new landmark status means that piece of 1929 Chicago will be protected for generations to come.
West Loop neighbors, what do you think about the shift toward ownership condos in the neighborhood — is that a welcome change of pace from the apartment tower wave? And are you glad to see the Chicago Daily News Building get its landmark protections? Drop your thoughts in the comments and tag a neighbor who'd want to weigh in right here on Socialhood!
Sources:
1. https://chicagoyimby.com/2026/08/renderings-revealed-for-marielle-on-the-park-in-west-loop.html
2. https://chicago.urbanize.city/