Politics
Fulton Market Zoning Ordinance Allows Residential Development North of Lake Street
The ordinance requires developers to set aside 30 percent of units as affordable housing in new projects approved for the area north of Lake Street.
How we reported this
The Chicago Plan Commission approved a new zoning ordinance in February 2024 that permits residential development north of Lake Street in the Fulton Market District. The Zoning Committee gave final approval in September 2024. The change directly affects land use rules that previously restricted housing in that section of the West Loop.
City Council approved three high-rise projects in September 2024 that add over 900 apartments and two grocery stores. One of those projects is a 38-story tower at 175 N. Racine Ave. with 380 units. These approvals followed the updated zoning rules for the district.
Scale of Planned Housing and Park Improvements
Approved and pending projects together total nine new apartment buildings with 6,649 units, of which 1,333 are designated affordable, according to data available as of mid-2024. The same records list nine capital improvement projects for Union Park totaling nearly $1.5 million. These figures show the volume of new residential construction now moving forward under the revised rules.
Residents will see additional housing supply, including the required affordable units, along with new grocery stores that can serve daily needs without leaving the neighborhood. The 30 percent affordable housing set-aside applies to projects developed under the ordinance north of Lake Street.
Recent Commission Decisions and Construction Timeline
In February 2026 the Plan Commission approved several large residential projects in the West Loop, including one that moved forward despite the zoning administrator's disapproval. In the same period the commission approved a mixed-use redevelopment at 1060 W Van Buren St. that reuses a historic industrial building and adds a new 27-story residential tower. Construction on that project is expected to begin in late 2026.
These decisions set the immediate path for new buildings and related infrastructure work. Further project details will be reviewed through standard city processes before ground is broken on additional sites.