With 77 current neighborhoods, The 78 in Chicago will be the newest addition, with exciting news for locals and visitors alike. As the largest real estate development ever here, The 78 will bring a more vibrant and bustling district to the Windy City than ever before.
Learn more about Chicago’s 78th neighborhood, what it will offer, and its estimated construction schedule.
What is The 78 in Chicago?
The 78 Chicago is a new, seven-billion-dollar, mixed-use real estate development. It will be located south of Downtown Chicago and north of Chinatown across 62 acres.
The 78 Chicago Highlights: What to Do & Expect to Come In This New Neighborhood
Although The 78 development is still in progress, here’s what we know so far about this mega real estate project:
World-Class Ballpark
Credit: 78 Chicago
There will be a state-of-the-art urban ballpark, potentially making a new home for the White Sox at The 78. It will also serve as a venue for other athletic and entertainment events to attract people from all over to visit along the South Loop.
The stadium plans include:
•Panoramic views of the Chicago skyline
•A large screen for the public to watch games from the outside
•Up to 38,000 seats
•Up to 14-acre location
•4,000-vehicle parking garage
•Accessible water taxi routes
Relocation plans for the White Sox from Guaranteed Rate Field haven’t been confirmed. However, it’s predicted the ballpark will be converted into a home for the MLS Chicago Fire if they move to The 78.
Chicago Riverwalk Connection
Credit: 78 Chicago
The 78 will have a half-mile connection to the Chicago Riverwalk, creating new public transit routes to downtown, Chinatown, and Ping Tom Park. Developers plan to build a 100-foot-wide land space with a new water taxi stop accessing the river edge. This space will be dedicated to all-season recreation for waterfront cultural events, family attractions, and programming.
Green & Public Open Spaces
Credit: 78 Chicago
Chicago’s 78th neighborhood will devote 40% of its acres for green and public open spaces. In an open campus setting, it’ll have plenty of room for outdoor activities, including walking/biking paths and social spots to meet at fragrant gardens and wide lawns.
Additional public attractions confirmed include:
•Rivers Casino: A 106,000-square-foot gaming floor, a 9,600-square-foot poker room, 2,600 slot machines, 160 table games, 3,800-square-foot VIP speakeasy lounge, and more
•Observation Tower: A three-floor observatory tower with views of downtown, surrounding neighborhoods, and Lake Michigan. A riverside cafe will also be connected.
•Diverse Dining Experiences: Farmer’s markets, riverside dining pop-ups, bakeries, restaurants, food halls, and more
•Riverwalk Plaza: Seasonal night markets with live music entertainment and dining options as part of the Entertainment District
University of Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park
Credit: Chicago YIMBY
The University of Illinois is set to open a new Quantum and Microelectronics Park with record-breaking plans with The 78. It will have a 300,000-square-foot structure, housing the world’s largest quantum computer and the nation’s first utility scale. The campus park will also have multiple office and research buildings around a central park with green spaces.
New Office District
Credit: 78 Chicago
The 78 will develop four million square feet of new leasing office spaces. The district will feature surrounding greenery areas and outdoor events for employees throughout the campus. Major brands like CNN, BlackRock, and Converse are confirmed to have office locations here.
New Residential Properties
Credit: 78 Chicago
As a mixed-use real estate development, The 78 will build new residential properties throughout the neighborhood. It will be among the 13 million square foot construction plans, with 20% dedicated to affordable housing for up to 10,000 residential units. The remaining properties will be available at market rate.
New Public Transportation Options
Credit: 78 Chicago
Additional public transit options will be constructed, creating easier travel access to and throughout The 78 district.
According to the City of Chicago, these include:
•Added Water taxi stops
•CTA Red/Orange/Green Line connections
•New CTA Red Line subway station at 15th St & Clark
•New Metra Rock Island station
•New I-90/94 and 290 highway routes
Local Infrastructure Renovations
In addition to new real estate, The 78 will make multiple improvements to local infrastructure.
According to the City of Chicago, these development and budget plans include:
•$79 million towards renovations on Clark St
•$13 million for extensions on 15 St
•$85 million to realign Metra tracks throughout the site
•$10 million to reconstruct the riverfront seawall
What is The 78 Chicago Timeline of Construction?
The 78 development began in 2016, and plans to complete parts of the North Phase in 2024 first.
The 78 North will include:
•The Wells-Wentworth Connector: A two-lane road connection from Wells St south to Chinatown and The 78, featuring five-foot raised bike lanes and tree-lined streets.
•The Gateway Towers: Two connected office skyscrapers. The East Tower will be 80,000 square feet with 35 floors, and the West Tower will be 1,200,000 square feet with 50 floors.
•The Riverfront Innovation Office: A 16-floor, 350,000-square-foot office building
•Parkside HQ: A 14-floor, 9,000-square-foot horizontal office building
The 78 district is currently scheduled to finish in the 2030s.
Live Near The 78 Chicago Hot Spot: Secure Your Apartment While Availability Lasts
Want to live near Chicago’s 78th neighborhood? Search for your apartment near this hotspot while it’s still in development to secure your future home with TLC Management Co.
Located near The 78, our Gramercy Row Apartments in River North amenities include:
•Charming English rowhouse apartments with Art Deco curved block windows
•High ceilings, kitchen French doors, and ceiling fans
•Close access to Merchandise Mart, shopping, dining, and CTA stations
•Cat-friendly community and no security deposit required
We also have over 30 properties within the Chicagoland area, each with unique features and conveniences for diverse lifestyles.
Browse our Chicago apartment listings or contact us at info@chicagorentals.com to kick off your apartment search today!
