Central Station development gains City zoning approval

By Marie Balice Ward

The final phase of Central Station’s four-tower section received City of Chicago Department of Zoning approval on condition that the developer reduce its footprint. The agreement also permits the developer to increase the height of the last two towers to be built as part of this South Loop project, which will occupy land at Columbus Drive and Roosevelt Road, at the southeast and southwest corners of Roosevelt Road and Indiana Avenue, and at the southeast corner of Roosevelt Road and Michigan Avenue.

Central Station will contain luxury condominiums costing from $350,000 to more than $2 million and ranging from 1,200 square feet to as much as 4,000 square feet for penthouses, said Tim Desmond, president of Central Station Development. It also will provide amenities including a pool club room, sauna, private lockers, game rooms, Wi-Fi, and concierge service.

Just before the Department of Zoning reviewed plans for the third and fourth towers, area residents expressed concern that making the third and fourth towers higher would cast shadows over Grant Park. According to 2nd Ward Alderman Robert Fioretti, however, more people favored than opposed the new, taller design since the project was introduced last October. He added that he had reviewed the shadow study findings and is “confident” there will be “little if any” problem for Grant Park.

Desmond noted the developer’s initial design brought objections from the City over blockage of sunlight. “Originally, the plan was for 400 foot high buildings that would occupy an entire block,” he said. The City’s concerns and other factors prompted the developer to overhaul the design by specifying a smaller footprint, making the towers slimmer, and increasing the third and fourth towers’ height.

Desmond explained these latter towers meet criteria for “LEED silver” certification, while the second tower is “LEED certified.” Gold and platinum are the top two LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) categories, with silver and certified next in ranking.