ZSD Corp Wins Approval to Turn Vacant Chicago Riverfront Into 14 More RiverWard Townhomes

• 2259 West Oakdale Avenue, Chicago, IL: ZSD Corp has secured Chicago City Council approval to expand RiverWard west toward North Oakley Avenue with 14 additional townhomes along the Chicago River.
• The expansion will include five riverfront three-bedroom homes and nine four-bedroom townhomes along Oakley Avenue, with three units designated as affordable.
• The approximately $10 million second phase will extend the public riverwalk to North Oakley Avenue, with construction planned to begin in Q3 2026 and finish in Q1 2028.

What ZSD Corp Is Adding

The approved expansion extends RiverWard west across the remaining vacant portion of the riverfront site. ZSD Corp is developing both phases, with SGW Architecture & Design responsible for the design. The first phase is already under construction and consists of 35 townhomes. The addition will bring the broader RiverWard community to 49 homes once completed.

 

 

What The 14 New Homes Include

The second phase will be divided between two three-story buildings. Five homes will face the Chicago River and continue the architectural language of the first phase. These residences will feature three bedrooms, private garages and outdoor space, while the nine homes along North Oakley Avenue will offer four bedrooms, rear yards and detached garages with rooftop decks. Three of the 14 new homes will be designated as affordable.

 

 

What The Riverwalk Adds

The project is not limited to private housing. RiverWard's existing public riverwalk will be extended west through the new phase and connected to North Oakley Avenue, expanding public access to the riverfront. The project will also reconstruct and reestablish Oakley Avenue through the site, creating a stronger pedestrian connection between the neighborhood and the Chicago River.

 

 

What The Design Brings To North Center

The riverfront homes will match the first phase with brick facades, large windows, smooth-panel cladding and upper-floor terraces. The Oakley Avenue building takes a more traditional approach, using brick with cast-stone surrounds, cornices and varied masonry details. Landscaping along the street will provide additional privacy and greenery.

What Comes Next For RiverWard

With City Council approval secured, the expanded property will be incorporated into the existing Planned Development 1127 and rezoned from M1-2 to RM-5 to accommodate the residential project. Construction on the roughly $10 million expansion is scheduled to begin in Q3 2026, with completion targeted for Q1 2028. The original 35-home phase is also progressing, with ZSD serving as developer and general contractor. For Chicago investors, RiverWard is turning previously vacant riverfront land into a combination of for-sale housing and public waterfront infrastructure, adding density while expanding access to the North Branch.