Southbridge Residential 80-Unit Tower Nears Topping Out In Chicago

• Construction is nearing the top of the 12-story, 80-unit Southbridge Phase 1C tower at 2305 South State Street on Chicago's Near South Side.
• McCaffery Interests and The Community Builders are developing the project, with McHugh Construction and McHugh Concrete handling construction.
• The building will include 29 Chicago Housing Authority units, another 44 affordable apartments, and seven market-rate units.
• The project will also feature 1,500 square feet of ground-floor retail, a rooftop deck, community room, dog-wash station and bicycle storage, with no new car parking.

What Is Rising At Southbridge

Construction is nearing its final height at 2305 South State Street, where crews are working on the penthouse level of Southbridge's Phase 1C residential tower. The 12-story building will contain 80 apartments, including 20 studios, 50 one-bedroom units and 10 two-bedroom units. The tower is rising directly across State Street from the earlier Southbridge Phase 1A and 1B residential buildings. With work now reaching the penthouse, the structure is expected to top out within days. Exterior glass installation has not yet begun, so façade work is expected to follow the completion of the building's structure.

What The Development Includes For Residents

The apartment mix is designed to serve a combination of affordable and market-rate renters. The Chicago Housing Authority will reserve 29 apartments, while another 44 units will be designated as affordable housing. That leaves seven market-rate apartments in the 80-unit building. Residents will have access to a shared rooftop deck, community room and dog-wash station. The building will also provide bicycle storage, but there will be no new automobile parking as part of the tower.

What The Building Adds At Street Level

The ground floor will include approximately 1,500 square feet of retail space, bringing a commercial component to the residential tower. The retail frontage will sit along State Street and East 23rd Street, adding another active use to the growing Southbridge development. The project is part of a broader effort to create a mixed-income, mixed-use community on the Near South Side.

What The Design Team Is Delivering

Gensler and Nia Architects designed the Phase 1C tower. The design is being developed as part of the larger Southbridge master plan, with the new building positioned across State Street from the project's earlier residential phases. The tower's location also puts it directly across from the south entrance to the Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line station, giving residents immediate access to CTA rail service.

What The Location Means For Transit

The project is particularly well positioned for transit-oriented living. The Green Line station is directly across State Street, while CTA Route 29 buses stop on the same block. Additional bus service is available along East Cermak Road and South Michigan Avenue, while the Cermak-Chinatown Red Line station is roughly three blocks northwest. That transit access, combined with the project's lack of new car parking, makes the tower a particularly transit-focused addition to Southbridge.

What Comes Next For The Project

The tower is expected to top out shortly, followed by the next stages of exterior enclosure and interior construction. An opening is currently projected for late 2027 or early 2028, although no official opening date has been announced. The project will add another 80 apartments to Southbridge while continuing the development's mix of affordable, public housing and market-rate residences.