Foundry Park Breaks Ground at Former Lincoln Yards Site — and Two New Apartment Buildings Clear City Council
By Socialhood News · Wicker Park ·
Two pieces of development news landed in quick succession for the broader Wicker Park corridor this fall, and together they signal a neighborhood still very much in motion heading into winter. On October 22, Foundry Park broke ground at the former Lincoln Yards site on the North Branch of the Chicago River — a project years in the making that marks a turning point for the industrial corridor that runs along Wicker Park's western flank. And at City Hall, the Chicago City Council approved two new apartment proposals in Ukrainian Village and Bucktown, adding to the residential development picture surrounding the neighborhood.
The Foundry Park groundbreaking, reported by Block Club Chicago on October 22, closes a chapter on one of Chicago's most contentious development sagas. The Lincoln Yards project — a massive mixed-use development proposed by Sterling Bay along the North Branch industrial corridor — faced years of delays, community pushback, and financial uncertainty before the site's future was reframed under the Foundry Park name. The groundbreaking marks the first physical construction milestone on a site that has sat largely idle while plans evolved. The corridor runs along the western edge of the Wicker Park and Ukrainian Village neighborhoods, and what happens there has long been a subject of close attention for residents on both sides of Elston Avenue.
At City Council, two residential proposals closer to home also received approval. A 40-unit apartment building at Chicago and Washtenaw avenues and a 30-unit building were both approved, according to Block Club Chicago's neighborhood digest. The two projects represent the kind of incremental residential density that has been reshaping the blocks between Ukrainian Village and Bucktown — neighborhoods that share streets, schools, and commercial corridors with Wicker Park. Neither building is a dramatic tower, but both add housing supply to a part of the city where demand has outpaced inventory for years.
Meanwhile, back at the park itself, the Wicker Park Advisory Council wrapped up its BooPalooza and BarkPalooza recap with a final attendance figure that topped expectations. The annual Halloween event drew a crowd of over 4,500 people to Wicker Park on October 17 — a new high for the event and a reminder of how effectively the neighborhood's volunteer-driven programming draws the community together. The Wicker Park Advisory Council, which organizes the event each year, holds its next monthly community meeting on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Wicker Park Field House, 1425 N. Damen Ave. Meetings are open to the public and run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
This Saturday, November 7, also brings another edition of Gardening Saturdays at the park, running from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1425 N. Damen Ave. The Wicker Park Advisory Council is actively seeking volunteer gardeners to help maintain the ornamental community garden as the season winds toward its close. No experience is required. Neighbors interested in joining can reach out at [email protected].
Taken together, the Foundry Park groundbreaking, the City Council apartment approvals, and the sustained community energy on display at BooPalooza reflect a neighborhood corridor that remains one of Chicago's most watched and most participated-in. For residents who want to stay current on the Foundry Park project and the broader North Branch corridor, Block Club Chicago has been following the story closely. And for those who want a voice in what comes next closer to home, the November 12 community meeting at the Field House is the place to show up.
Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/wicker-park-bucktown-west-town/
2. https://wickerpark.org/
3. https://wickerpark.org/events/