2 Skyscrapers Planned For Old Chicago Spire Site

CHICAGO, IL — A real estate development company unveiled a plan Tuesday for two towers to go up in the former Chicago Spire site near Navy Pier. Dubbed 400 Lake Shore Drive, the proposal includes luxury condominiums, apartments, a boutique hotel and parking, Related Midwest said. The round hole where the Chicago Spire was set to go up a decade ago sits in a 2.2 acre site in Streeterville.

Famed architect David Childs has designed the two skyscrapers, the tallest of which would stand 1,100 feet tall. Childs designed One World Trade Center in New York City.

The proposed South Tower in the plan would become the fifth tallest building in Chicago, then would be bumped to the sixth tallest starting in 2020 when the Vista Tower is completed nearby. The South Tower would include a 175-room hotel and 300 condominiums.

The North Tower would stand at 850 feet, and house 550 rental units, Related Midwest said.

The company and Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) unveiled the plans during a community meeting on Tuesday. The proposal includes a $10 million contribution from Related Midwest towards the completion of DuSable Park, and an extension of the Chicago Riverwalk from Michigan Avenue under Lake Shore Drive to the lake through the site of the two proposed skyscrapers.

If zoning is approved by the city, the plan is expected to take around four-and-a-half years to complete.

The deep hole that currently sits in the site was the beginning of construction for the Chicago Spire, which failed financially during the 2008 recession.

Top images: renderings by Noe & Associates/Boundary (courtesy of Related Midwest)