Curbed Real Estate Secures Approval for Streeterville Office-to-Residential Conversion

• Chicago City Council has approved plans to convert the upper floors of 212 E. Ohio St. into 28 residential units.
• Developer Curbed Real Estate and architect Gansari & Associates will redevelop the existing office space while preserving the ground-floor restaurant.
• The project will include 24 one-bedroom units, four two-bedroom units, a fitness center, and bike parking, with no on-site parking planned.

What Was Approved at 212 E. Ohio St.

A residential conversion project is moving forward at 212 E. Ohio St. in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood after receiving approval from the City Council. The redevelopment will transform the upper levels of an existing five-story mixed-use commercial building located between North Fairbanks Court and North St. Clair Street. The project was first unveiled earlier this year and represents another example of underutilized office space being repositioned for residential use in downtown Chicago.

What the Existing Building Includes

The property contains approximately 28,000 square feet of space across five stories. While the upper floors will undergo a major transformation, the ground-floor restaurant space will remain in place and continue operating. The former office lobby will also be converted into a dedicated residential entrance, creating a separate identity for future residents while maintaining the building's commercial component.

What the Residential Conversion Will Deliver

The redevelopment team plans to demolish and rebuild the upper four floors, which were most recently occupied by @Properties. Once completed, the building will contain 28 apartments, including 24 one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units. Because the building sits on a narrow mid-block site with limited window exposure, the residential layouts will utilize borrowed light for bedroom areas where direct access to windows is not possible. While this design approach is common in adaptive reuse projects, it highlights some of the challenges involved in converting office space into residential housing.

What Amenities Residents Can Expect

Although the project will not provide on-site parking or outdoor amenity space, residents will have access to a large fitness center and a dedicated bicycle storage room located in the basement. These amenities are intended to support an urban lifestyle in one of Chicago's most walkable downtown neighborhoods, where many daily needs can be reached without a car.

What the Approval Means for the Project Timeline

The approval grants the development team several variances needed to move forward with the project. However, the overall zoning designation for the property will remain unchanged. Because no zoning change was required, the development is not obligated to include affordable housing units under current city regulations. With City Council approval now secured, the developer can proceed with obtaining construction permits and preparing for redevelopment. No construction timeline or anticipated completion date has been announced.