Darn Near Done: North Union’s 868 North Wells

Posted on March 9, 2024 by danieldschell

868 South Wells, the second tower at North Union, is Darn Near Done

The thing about taking a break is that projects in the middle of construction suddenly seem completed when you miss a few months. Take 868 North Wells. I blinked, and now there’s no more tower crane, the glass is full to the top, and there isn’t much left to see.

Granted, I did stop by North Union a few times in late summer, but didn’t get around to posting photos. So what the heck. Let’s post some photos from visits in August and September of 2023, and a few of the Darn Near Done tower from March 2024, starting with the most recent.

Congrats to the development team on topping out at 868:

JDL Development – Developer
Intercontinental Real Estate – Co-Developer
Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture – Design Architect
Power Construction – General Contractor

868’s permit history:

Foundation – issued 09/06/2022
Tower crane – issued 10/12/2022
Full building – issued 01/04/2023
Hoist – issued 03/03/2023
Tower crane phase 2 – issued 04/06/2023

And finally, photos from my last 4 visits to 868 North Wells:

March 2024:

September 2023:

August 2023:

Enjoying the photos? Metra and CTA rides (and Amtrak trains to Milwaukee), Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, domain fees, snacks & energy drinks, and comfortable walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

Topped-out, craneless, fully-clad 920 North Wells updates

Posted on March 30, 2023 by danieldschell

A CTA train passes 920 North Wells and the tower crane at 868 North Wells, Feb 2023

I have another 2-fer to throw your way, without leaving North Union.

Here are progress photos of the topped-out, fully-glazed 920 North Wells, North Union’s first tower. Almost the same team as today’s earlier 868 North Wells post, including JDL Development, design architect Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, and general contractor Power Construction, but with Adjustable Concrete as the concrete contractor.

First set of photos are the more recent, from March 29. Second set was taken February 26.

A pair of visits to 868 North Wells as North Union brings more apartments to the Near North Side

Posted on March 30, 2023 by danieldschell

Moon and tower crane over 868 North Wells, 2/26/2023.

Know what’s great about procrastination? It means you get two updates within a single space.

868 North Wells is the second phase of JDL Development’s sprawling North Union project on the Near North Side. I stopped by here in September when caissons got started, then didn’t come back until February 26. And even then, I took a bunch of photos, yet posted nothing. But today, I shall make up for that, as you not only get to see those February photos, but also a new set of pictures taken March 29. The added benefit, of course, is getting to see and compare progress without leaving this page. Because I like you. Stay awhile.

General contractor Power Construction, with an assist from concrete contractor McHugh Concrete, has elevated all of 868 above street level, rising to the second floor overall. I’m going to guess the concrete core is about about the fifth floor. They’ll eventually rise to 27 stories containing 411 units. Around the back, there’s another project going up to five stories, but I couldn’t begin to tell you where one ends and the other begins.

Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture designed this one, just as they did Phase One of North Union, 920 North Wells.

All the big permits are official for 868 North Wells, including:

foundations permitted 9/6/22
tower crane permitted 10/12/22
full building permitted 1/4/23
hoist permitted 3/3/23

Below, you’ll find both sets of photos, with the more recent edition first (920 North Wells makes several cameos):

920 North Wells is Flying

Posted on September 12, 2022 by danieldschell

I took these photos on Wednesday last week. At the rate it’s going, 920 North Wells might be done by now. AT the very least, there’s likely another full floor done.

Common Lincoln Park has lost its tower crane, while The Senn has found its windows

Posted on August 29, 2022 by danieldschell

I’m not upset the pretty lights in the sky at Big Deahl are gone; I’m upset the tower crane at Common Lincoln Park holding the pretty lights at Big Deahl is gone. Alas, lots of good things come to an end. It’s at least nice to see lots of windows on The Seng.

Under the last tower crane standing at Big Deahl, 1475 North Kingsbury trends upward

Posted on August 26, 2022 by danieldschell

The pretty, lighted tower crane at 853 West Blackhawk is gone, but one remains standing at 1475 North Kingsbury, where Power Construction continues erecting a FitzGerald-designed tower for Structured Development, White Oak Realty Partners, and Ponsky Capital Partners.

1475 North Kingsbury will be a 27-story building, with 327 rental apartments, atop a three-level parking podium. Amenities will include a rooftop pool with a view of the Chicago skyline.

Going up, and going, going, gone — 920 and 868 North Wells at North Union

Posted on August 24, 2022 by danieldschell

868 North Wells has been reduced to rubble, while 920 North Wells has produced up to the fifth-floor slab, at JDL Development’s sprawling North Union project.

Here are the pics from last week (they could well be on the sixth floor by now):

Progress update: The 808 Cleveland, topped out and soon-to-be sans tower crane

Posted on August 22, 2022 by danieldschell

DAC Developments’ The 808 Cleveland (808 North Cleveland Ave) topped out last month, putting another Chicago tower crane in danger of coming down in August.

The 22-story, 200-unit apartment tower by Pappageorge Haymes Partners is almost as glassy as it is tall, with just five levels of glazing remaining to be installed. That’s Focus‘s handiwork on the build.

The project team plans to have The 808 open for renters in Spring 2023, while also leasing about 28,000 square feet of retail and office space.

The following gallery was taken August 17, with a few photos from July 29 thrown in for good measure. Because I couldn’t bear to leave out a couple I took from Division Street and Halsted.

920 North Wells rises above street level as demolition continues for North Union next door

Posted on August 5, 2022 by danieldschell

The North Union megadevelopment from JDL Development is now evidenced in two locations. 920 North Wells, the first building to get started, has risen above street level. At 868 North Wells one block to the south, demolition is underway to clear space for another residential tower. 868 will be a 25-story building with 428 units and 12,000 square feet of retail space.

The most fun thing about this is you get two galleries; one for 920 construction by Power Construction, and one for 868 demolition by Atlas Industries. It’s like getting extra free stuff with the free stuff you already got.

Common Lincoln Park has topped out at Big Deahl

Posted on August 5, 2022 by danieldschell

The topped -out Common Lincoln Park, with the 1475 N Kingsbury tower crane behind it.

In more topping out news, word comes this week that Common Lincoln Park, part of the Big Deahl Phase II development at 853 W Blackhawk, has topped out. Phase II kinda sorta came in two phases itself, with The Seng, a five-story condo building at 869 West Blackhawk, and Common Lincoln Park, a 10-story apartment tower at 853 West Blackhawk, getting started first, followed soon thereafter by 1475 North Kingsbury.

The following gallery shows Power Construction’s progress on The Seng and Common Lincoln Park. We’ll get to 1475 in another post. Hopefully.