City of Chicago Announces Winners of Central Manufacturing District RFP

The winner of the Central Manufacturing District Request for Proposals (RFP) has been recently announced by the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. The site is located at 1769 W Pershing Road in McKinley Park, just west of the S Ashland Avenue intersection. Following numerous community meetings, the city has chosen the winning team, composed of IBT Group, Inherent l3c, Epstein, APMonarch, and Site Design Group.

The coveted site: The expansive Central Manufacturing District spans 265 acres within the neighborhood and is renowned as the nation’s pioneering modern planned industrial district, a portion of which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. Initially established in 1905, the RFP was initiated for the westernmost 571,476-square-foot warehouse and an adjacent 3.2-acre lot with a one-story building late last year.

The wining plan: The original proposal has seen some alterations, notably in the inclusion of a plan for the adjacent building. This space will now house a 50,000-square-foot grocery store, addressing vital service needs in the area, supported by a 130-vehicle parking lot. Additionally, a 120-vehicle lot will be set up at the rear of the main warehouse structure for future residents, totaling 250 spaces.

The warehouse itself will undergo significant renovations, featuring a new expansive atrium spanning all floors. The redeveloped space will offer approximately 200,000 square feet of flexible lab/office space. Furthermore, there are plans for 120 mixed-income residential units, encompassing studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts. The development will culminate in a 105,000-square-foot green roof, incorporating retail space for a café, playground, and an extensive running track atop two adjacent historical buildings.

The next step: Preliminary cost estimations for the proposal indicate an approximate amount of $140 million. Once approved, the construction will be executed by the Englewood Construction and ARCO Murray team.