RIVER NORTH — Construction has started on a new River North apartment tower, a project that will close sidewalks and traffic lanes into next year.
A joint venture between Chicago-based Magellan Development Group and Mac Properties broke ground last week on the 39-story apartment tower it's building at 167 W. Erie St. The tower is expected to open in May 2017, and once built, will include 450 apartments, said Jim Losik, a Magellan spokesman.
Until then, the project's construction will impact traffic. Fencing and barricades have been set up, but there will also be sidewalk and single lane closures on Erie between LaSalle and Wells streets, and on Wells between Erie and Ontario streets, Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) said in a newsletter to constituents Friday.
The tower is replacing a Gino's East that closed when the pizzeria moved in 2013 to 500 N. LaSalle St. The Ed Debevic's diner across the street has been bulldozed to make way for another planned apartment tower.
Magellan, a prolific developer, is better known for building the massive Lakeshore East neighborhood, where it plans the supertall Wanda Vista tower on Wacker Drive.
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