The proposal from Onni Group could transform the southern end of Goose Island from a gritty industrial zone into a beautiful mixed-use neighborhood with thousands of residents. Onni Group plans to build towers as tall as 56 stories and nearly 2,700 homes.
An article in Crain's Chicago Business states that Vancouver-based Onni Group has unveiled its plans for an 8 acre parcel on Goose Island called Halsted Point. The project which is located on the 900 block of Halstead Street would include buildings ranging from 28 to 56 stories. This could be the first residential development on Goose Island since the city relaxed zoning rules along the North Branch of the river back in 2017.
Onni is planning on breaking ground early next year on a 46 story tower on the site that would include 508 residential units. Later phases would include the following:
- Residential high-rises of roughly 30, 56 and 55 stories
- A 28 story building with a 247 room hotel and 108,000 square feet of office space
The project could total as many as 2,650 homes, with about 520 set aside as affordable.
The firm bought the property from Greyhound in early 2019 and paid $38 million. It was originally used as a bus maintenance facility by Greyhound.
Onni presented its plans at a virtual meeting and depending on feedback from nearby residents and city officials, the developer could modify the plans before they go to the city. The project will require the approval of the Chicago Plan Commission and the City Council. The developer is willing to pay $28 million into various city funds and programs in exchange for the zoning it will need - 2.7 million square feet.
LOOKING FOR MIXED-USE PROJECTS IN CHICAGO?
Onni has developed multiple apartment buildings in Old Town and River North, but Halsted Point will be the largest development in Chicago for Onni.
Halsted Point is also one of many big proposed projects in the area:
- Sterling Bay's massive Lincoln Yards development
- A mixed-use project by Chicago based Riverside Investment and Development
- Chicago based JDL Development's North Union which will be a residential community with 2,700 units on part of the Moody Bible Institute campus
The Real Deal reports that Onni also has plans to build a pedestrian bridge that would be constructed over the Chicago River. The bridge would require backing from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The development would take over a decade to build and would include nearly four acres of public space, 1,500 parking spaces (almost all underground), and over 1,000 linear feet of river access.
According to The Chicago Sun Times, the Onni Group is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, but has been active in Chicago. According to Alderman Walter Burnett Jr., the proposal would revitalize an area he regarded as a "ghost town" when he was a teenager. The site is within his ward.
Brian Brodeur, Onni's vice president of development stated that the housing is planned as rentals and at full buildout, the project would generate $28 million from Onni to city funds for neighborhood improvements, including renovations of industrial corridors.
The site is north of the Chicago Tribune's Freedom Center printing plant. Past proposals on the printing plant have called for a commercial project, however, and nothing has moved forward. The Tribune has a long-term lease on the property, where the Chicago Sun Times also is printed.
Onni is working with Hartshorne Plunkard Architects and other firms may get involved later. The 46 story building in the first phase would contain ground-floor retail space, maybe a grocery store and would eventually have 1,400 parking spaces, mostly below grade.
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - Former Greyhound Bus Maintenance Facility Redevelopment Goose Island - Chicago (0039020119)
