What Are Those Cranes Building By Target Field?
Whether you’re walking the streets of the North Loop or sitting in a seat at Target Field, it’s clear that something big is happening across from the ballpark. Giant cranes are helping construction crews make good progress on what will be North Loop Green, a 35-story residential tower, 14-story office tower and one-acre park.
When the project is completed in 2024, developers hope the park will become a popular downtown destination for entertainment and recreation, with access for cyclists right off the Cedar Lake Trail.
“The idea is that it will be highly activated,” said managing director Bob Pfefferle of Hines Construction, “and not just in the summer months, but all year long.”
To help make that happen, they’re bringing in Marquee Development, the same firm that activates the space outside Wrigley Field in Chicago with movie nights, concerts, group exercise classes and Christmas markets among many other activities.
You now have a chance to let the developers know what you’d like to see featured in the park, by filling out this quick survey.
Pfefferle said the early construction phase has focused on building the lower-level parking podium on what used to be a surface parking lot. By next month, the project will start rising above 5th Street.
In the residential tower will be 450 apartments–100 of which will be fully furnished units available for short-term rentals on the first six floors, with their own entrance and lobby.
Pfefferle said he expects the office building to open in January of 2024, with the apartment tower and park to be ready in the Spring of 2024.
By Mike Binkley, North Loop volunteer
