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66-Story Tower, New Riverwalk Just Some Of The Changes Coming To Wolf Point

By David Matthews | October 20, 2016 12:58pm
 These drawings show the big changes coming soon to Wolf Point. 
Site plan for Wolf Point's second phase
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DOWNTOWN — A new tower isn't the only big change coming to Wolf Point. 

The Chicago Plan Commission signed off Thursday on Wolf Point East, a new 66-story apartment tower breaking ground next year where the Chicago River's three branches meet. 

The 707-unit tower would be one of the biggest apartment buildings in the city upon its completion. But the tower is just part of a bevy of newly-approved Wolf Point projects that promise to change how people live in — or even drive through — River North.

RELATED: 66-Story Wolf Point Tower To Break Ground With New Look

New, revised plans would redirect traffic around the Merchandise Mart to accommodate the thousands of new residents expected to move in to the Wolf Point towers next door. The commission signed off on a new "contraflow" lane Thursday, allowing motorists to drive southbound on Orleans Street from Hubbard Street to the newly-created Wolf Point Plaza.

Orleans traffic currently only travels northbound on the block.

"The addition of this one block stretch of southbound Orleans will improve connectivity from the expressway and ease current congestion on the surrounding streets," Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) wrote to constituents earlier this month.

Contraflow lanes are often used for buses, bicycles, or other vehicles that travel in the opposite direction of surrounding lanes. The commission also approved several turn arrows, traffic signals, crosswalks, other features aimed at accommodating the increased traffic expected in the area. 

The Franklin Bridge, which currently narrows from three to two lanes at Hubbard Street, will narrow a bit sooner, just north of the bridge, said Mike Claffey, a spokesman for the Chicago Department of Transportation.

The project's timeline has not yet been set, but the work will be done around the time the tower opens in 2019, Claffey said. 

RELATED: New Wolf Point Tower Will Redirect Traffic Near The Merchandise Mart


A site plan for the Wolf Point development. [City of Chicago]

Plans also call for a new, nearly two-acre riverfront park with a riverwalk. The riverwalk will include a restaurant or small cafe, Reilly said. 

Wolf Point West, the development's first tower, opened in January. The Wolf Point developers — a venture between the AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust, Houston developer Hines Interests, and Kennedy family scion Christopher G. Kennedy — will break ground on Wolf Point East next year. 

The new tower at 313 W. Wolf Point Plaza is expected to open in 2019 and will include its own amenities and street-level retail.

The development's tallest tower, a 950-foot-tall high-rise called Wolf Point South, is expected to complete the $1 billion project later. 

Click here for a full list of the newly-approved changes. 

RELATED STORIES:

First Wolf Point Tower Opens for Residents Amid Changing Scene Around River

Planning Commission Approves Phase 1 of Wolf Point Development Plan


[All renderings courtesy of Pelli Clarke Pelli]

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