Chicago Mega Developments: 11 Projects and Their Status in 2026
Chicago mega developments have reshaped the map of the city over the past decade, turning vacant industrial corridors, rail yards and riverfront parcels into multi billion dollar mixed use districts. Some have delivered towers and riverwalks. Others have stalled, changed hands, or been quietly shelved. This guide walks through 11 of the largest mega developments in Chicago, what has actually been built, and where each one stands today.
What counts as a Chicago mega development?
In Chicago, a mega development generally means a master planned project covering more than 20 acres or several million square feet, built out in phases over 10 to 20 years, and usually involving public infrastructure such as new streets, bridges, transit stations or riverwalk. Most are financed in part through tax increment financing.
1. Lincoln Yards
Infrastructure, roads and riverwalk work happened, but the original mega plan largely stalled amid Sterling Bay's financial difficulties, with reporting in 2025 on lender pressure and new developer involvement. Almost no vertical construction of the original plan.
2. The 78
Still in the infrastructure and street grid phase. The Discovery Partners Institute remains the planned anchor. A White Sox ballpark at the site has been discussed but is not approved or funded.
3. The River District
The River District mega-development is located halfway between Lincoln Yards and The 78 on 30 acres of Tribune Media owned land in River West. The 8.5 million square foot project is approved for 14 mixed-use buildings that will include 4,100 residential units and 19,000 jobs.
Tribune Media is looking for a buyer or joint venture partner for this project. Phase one calls for 1,500 residential units in two high rises located between Grand Avenue and the Ohio-Ontario feeder ramp.
4. Riverline and Southbank
Developers Lendlease and CMK both agreed to part ways and split their $2 billion project in half but the Riverline and Southbank projects will still go on. The site encompasses 14 acres of vacant land along the south branch of the Chicago River between Harrison Street and Roosevelt Road.
The architect is Perkins+Will and so far only one building, a high rise apartment tower known as the Cooper at Southbank, has been completed. The plan will include 3,700 residences spread across eight waterfront towers and blocks of townhouses, commercial retail space, a public riverwalk and water taxi stops. The new riverwalk is currently being worked on.
5. Wolf Point South, East and West
All three towers are complete and occupied. Wolf Point West and Wolf Point South are finished, and Wolf Point East is the Salesforce Tower, now occupied with Salesforce as anchor tenant.
6. Lakeshore East - Vista, Cirus, Cascade, Parcel I and Parcel O
Lakeshore East is a 28 acre development that is five towers away from being completed. Vista Tower is 1,191 feet high and will be completed in the spring of 2020. This is a hotel and residential tower that will be joined by a 47 story condo tower known as Cirrus, a 37 story apartment tower called Cascade and an 80 story residential tower at Parcel I.
The developer, Magellan, also is planning a 650 foot tall combination apartment and hotel tower for Parcel O.
7. One Central
Still a proposal. Has not broken ground and remains dependent on state legislative funding.
8. Old Post Office
The transformation of the 2.8 million square foot historic building into a brand new office space is the nation's single largest adaptive reuse project currently under construction. The developer, 601W Companies, bought the abandoned post office from the late British billionaire Bill Davies in 2016 and construction started soon after that. Gensler designed the redo and it includes the following:
- Renovation of the Art Deco lobby
- Fitness Center
- Lounges
- A food court
- Huge rooftop deck
Walgreens will be the first office tenant and will be joined eventually by Ferrara Candy, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency, Abelson Taylor and Kroger. Uber is also considering a huge 450,000 square foot lease.
9. Union Station
A $1 billion plan is under construction to redevelop Chicago's Union Station and surrounding Amtrak property. Riverside Investment & Development and Convexity Properties are the developers and have scaled back its plan from the original. They are now going for a more conservative design and are converting the unoccupied upper levels of the building into new hotel rooms with only a single-story penthouse.
The plans call for a new 700 foot office tower anchored by BMO Financial Group to rise a block south of the historic train depot. The building is expected to open in 2022 but an existing Amtrak parking garage must be demolished first.
10. Burnham Lakefront
Farpoint Development is planning to revitalize the long-vacant 100 acre Michael Reese Hospital site located at 2929 S. Ellis Avenue. Farpoint is currently working to shape a conceptual design for Phase One of the plan which will include the following:
- Affordable housing
- A research facility
- Public art
- Parks
- Plazas
City approvals still need to be granted before any work can begin.
11. South Bridge
McCaffery Interests (Joint Venture) is preparing for construction on a 11 acre redevelopment which used to be the Harold L. Ickes public housing complex and has already been demolished. It is known as South Bridge and plans will include 900 mixed income residences spread across clusters of townhouses, six-story apartment buildings and a mid-rise tower.
The zoning application states that the project will include 75,000 square feet of retail, public plazas and 270 on-site parking spaces. Construction could start by this summer according to 3rd Ward Alderman Pat Dowell.
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Last updated: August 2026
references:
Lincoln Yards
DataBid Blog titled - Sterling Bay Submits New Proposal for Lincoln Yards
DataBid Blog titled - Chicago Council Approves 2 Massive Projects - Lincoln Yards & The 78
DataBid Blog titled - $5B Lincoln Yards Riverfront Mega Project
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - Lincoln Yards Mega Development North Branch - Chicago (0084071918)
The 78
DataBid Blog titled - Chicago Council Approves 2 Massive Projects - Lincoln Yards & The 78
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - The 78 Mixed Use Development South Loop - Chicago (0058052516)
The River District
DataBid Blog titled - Tribune Media Approved to Build 14 Mixed-use Towers in Chicago
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - 700 at the River District Redevelopment Phase 1 Subarea A - Chicago (0078101818)
Riverline & Southbank
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - Riverline Mixed Use Development - South Loop (0035050715)
Wolf Point South, East and West
DataBid Blog titled - Salesforce Tower Chicago Expansion
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - Wolf Point Towers - Chicago (0050072914)
Lakeshore East: Vista, Cirus, Cascade, Parcel I, Parcel O
DataBid Blog titled - Two Lakeshore East Towers plan to Break Ground this Summer
DataBid Blog titled - Revised Three Tower Project for Lakeshore East
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - Lake Shore East Mixed Use Development (0048062717)
One Central
DataBid Blog titled - One Central Megadevelopment Seeks State Funds for $3.8 Billion Transit Center
DataBid Blog titled - "One Central" Mega Project Including 10 Skyscrapers in Early Conceptual Phase
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - One Central Mega Development South Loop - Chicago (0056042619)
Old Post Office
DataBid Blog titled - Walgreens bringing 1,300 jobs Downtown
Databid is currently reporting on this project - Chicago Old Post Office Building Redevelopment (0076032516)
Union Station
DataBid Blog titled - BMO Tower Construction begins in 2019 next to Union Station
DataBid Blog titled - New Plans Added to Union Station Project
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - Union Station Redevelopment (0064053117)
Burnham Lakefront
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - Bronzeville Residential Developments - Chicago (0022112917)
South Bridge
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - Southbridge Ickes Redevelopment McCormick Place - Chicago (0042062515)
Judy Lamelza
Editor-in-Chief