Plan Commission approves 'Tribune Tower East'

The Chicago Plan Commission approved the "Tribune Tower" Project on Friday, May 8, advancing the proposal to build the city’s second-tallest skyscraper to the zoning committee and City Council for final approval. 

Designed to rise 1,442 feet, the planned development at 421 North Michigan Avenue will include two buildings that contain 726 dwelling units, a hotel, retail space, 687 parking stalls and 14 loading berths. It also prompted Alderman Brendan Reilly to schedule a half-dozen meetings with the developers, Golub and CIM Group.

“This is a very ambitious plan and one that has the potential to transform this important stretch of Michigan Avenue,” the Alderman informed constituents in a May 8 newsletter. “Ambitious plans like this can also impact local infrastructure, traffic flow, loading patterns and open space.” 

Rendering of 421 N. Michigan Ave.

Rendering of propsed structure for 421 N. Michigan Ave. (Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture)

Noting that the developer also met with the Cityfront Center West Association, SOAR (the Streeterville neighborhood group of record) and residents from 240 East Illinois Street he added that, “it is my responsibility to identify those areas of concern and work with city planners and transportation officials to negotiate improvements and public benefits” and llisted several improvements that had been made to the original design. Among them:

1. The addition of new vehicular and pedestrian entries, security offices, pick-up and drop-off areas to the lower level at Michigan Avenue and Illinois Street, as well as enhanced lighting and refreshed infrastructure;.
2. The requirement of an internal building cut-through from Illinois Street to Cityfront Plaza for hotel guest drop off on the upper level of Illinois Street and Cityfront Plaza, restricted curbside parking, the extension of a pedestrian refuge, and the addition of new, mature parkway trees;
3. A redesign at Pioneer Court that includes the addition of a new public pathway connecting Michigan Avenue and Cityfront Plaza, an increase of open green space, mature trees, new accessible outdoor seating; raised planter bed systems and enhanced lighting.

Alderman Reilly also added that “this project will boost economic development by creating thousands of construction job hours for the men and women of the Building Trades and more than 400 permanent full-time jobs on-site, once the project is completed.” 

Despite receiving a green light, the $700 million project remains a “highly speculative deal,” according to the Sun-Times. A story published last week quoted developer Lee Golub as telling the commission, “it’s tough to be able to predict in today’s world.”